The over 4,000 retirees of the Delta Steel Company (DSC), Ovwian/Aladja in Udu, Delta State, have inaugurated the DSC Sectoral Branch of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) executive members to run the affairs of the body.
The inauguration of the body followed the successful election of the executive members with Mr. Thomas Oserohwovo to serve as the pioneer chairman of the Union.
The body was inaugurated on Sunday amidst celebration from members of the union at the DSC Secondary School, Steel Town in Udu.
Speaking at the ceremony, the newly elected chairman, Mr. Oserohwovo called on retirees to continue to work in unity, assuring that the committee will prioritise the welfare of members.
Oserohwovo expressed hope that with the instituted body, DSC retirees will get all accrued and expected benefits including regularised pensions and as well, attract government attention to infrastructural deficits across their residential quarters, Steel Town.
Thanking everyone for finding them worthy to serve, he promised that his team would work tirelessly to achieve all their needs.
“I thank you all, that we have arrived at this level. Unity is strength. The strugglebhas been on, we are not new to it. I want to assure you that whatever troubles we have had, this time we would work harder than we used to, to make sure that everything we have to get, comes to us.
“As a team, we will give our best to ensure that DSC pensioners are not left out in the scheme of things. Whatever is due us as pensioners, we will do our best to achieve and bring it, so that our lives can be prolonged on earth”.
Noting that the retirees have suffered from lack of basic amenities and infrastructure, Oserohwovo his team is ready to engage government at all levels to meet the needs of the DSC retirees.
“We have been without light, without many things. Our team, going forward, would engage the Local and State Governments to ensure that some of the facilities that are supposed to be here are brought”.
The President-General of Steel Community, Mr. Samuel Otite, said with the NUP DSC chapter leadership installed, “the future is going to be bright,” for the retired workers.
According to him, after many years of dealing with factional leaders “we were able to bring them together and have a united Union. This is the first formidable Union so far that has been formed for all the retirees. The people are happy because they have not seen this kind before and indeed, with what has happened, the future is going to be bright.
“Our pensions, they are not paying us what is expected because there is no strong union. Now that we have come together, we can now move forward and say ‘do this for us’ and everybody would be happy”.
Chairman of the electoral committee, Evang. W. O. Okpare, while presenting a report said each candidate were unopposed and went through “thorough screening” exercise.
The executive members include Messrs John Okari (Vice Chairman), Matthew Akpotegor (Secretary), Timothy Omoh (Assistant secretary), Jonathan Ayoma (Treasurer), Counsellor Okpara (Public Relations Officer), Tijani Idris (Auditor), Robert Idamigoru (Trustee I) and Johnson Arumuowa (Trustee II).
