The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) in Taraba State, Comrade El-Nathan Bila Auta, has cautioned pensioners in the state against participating in what he described as a kangaroo election being planned by a defunct caretaker committee of the union.
Auta, who issued the warning in Jalingo, said the purported election of local government branches scheduled for October 19, 2025, was illegal and amounted to contempt of court, given that a suit on the union’s leadership crisis is still pending before the Federal Industrial Court, Yola, which is expected to deliver judgment on November 11, 2025.
“No one has the right to conduct any election in Taraba State before the court delivers its judgment in Yola,” Auta said. “I therefore advise all pensioners to steer clear of this illegal act, which violates the grand norms of our union.”
The NUP chairman also accused the Controller of the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity in Taraba State, Abubakar Sajo, of “undue and one-sided interference” in the union’s internal matters.
According to Auta, the controller has been misinforming his superiors in Abuja about the true state of affairs in the union, while allegedly providing office space for the defunct committee to hold “illegal meetings” against the interest of the general membership.
“His direct interference in the NUP’s affairs is alarming,” Auta warned. “If care is not taken, he may find himself in a situation that could be damaging to his career.”
He further appealed to all government officials at both federal and state levels to refrain from taking sides, urging them to allow the court process to run its course.
Efforts to obtain comments from Mr. Abubakar Sajo proved unsuccessful, as he was said to be absent from his office, while several calls to his mobile phone were unanswered.
In a related development, the Executive Secretary of the Taraba State Local Government Pension Board, Mr. Thomas Daniel, has denied allegations that he was supporting the defunct caretaker committee or releasing union dues to it in violation of a court injunction.
Speaking with journalists in Jalingo, Daniel explained that the caretaker committee was already in place when he assumed office, adding that all funds released were done in line with existing administrative arrangements.
He said the board would fully comply with the court’s forthcoming decision and work with whichever faction is recognized by the judgment.
“We have no issue with any faction. Our actions are guided strictly by the rules and regulations that established the board,” he stated.
