Factional crisis: Taraba pensions secretariat under lock, key as Police takes over premises

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By Celestine Ihejirika, Jalingo

The secretariat of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) Taraba State Council is now under lock and key as factional members are set to take control of the premises.

At the moment, the secretariat located adjacent to the state ministry of finance close to Police Command headquarters, Jalingo has been completely sealed with key and chain while over draft of police men are stationed there.

However major roads leading to the secretariat were equally closed as motorists, tricycle operators (keke) and passers-bye were forced to use other paths.

Our correspondent who visited the secretariat this afternoon reports that tension is building up as another factional group of the union insisted that the right thing must be done.

Our reporter also revealed that the majority of the union members were at the state police command headquarter Jalingo while few others were sighted at old Afolaham square close to the command seen in a group discussing what might be the fate of the union.

Contacted on GSM telephone, the newly elected chairman Comrade Nathan Bila disclosed he was at state police command headquarters and cannot speak further nor respond to calls at moment pending when he was through from the command.

Also contacted, the state chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) Comrade Peter Jediel told our reporter on telephone that he has nothing at stake over NUP crises in the state, pointing out that their leaders at the national level can intervene if they so wish.

As of the time of filing this report no official statement has been received from the state government side, a development many perceive as the government has interest in the ongoing crises.

It will be recalled a forthnight ago the union held a free, fair and transparent election to replace caretaker members who have spent nine months in office as against six months stipulated by the constitution, a move that led to the emergence of a factional group which ended up resulting in the present crises.