Federal Government
Pensioners under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), have called on
the National Pension Commission (PenCom) asking for the payment of
pension entitlements of workers, who retired from January 2017 till
date.
They noted that the
Federal Government and the Commission had promised them prompt payment
of pension immediately after retirement, or at most, three months after,
but have not kept to their word.
The pensioners, who
spoke under the auspices of the Association of Federal Contributory
Scheme Pensioners, Oyo State chapter, insisted that the government ought
to keep its promise in order to preserve the life of pensioners as well
as their family members and dependants.
The pensioners
said: "We wish to demand further that some of our members have not even
received any of their retirement benefits, especially those who retired
from January 2017 to date. Their retirement benefits have not been paid
to them, and this is causing serious problems in the life of members who
are affected."
Moreover, the
pensioners' association, in the letter signed by its President, Amao
Shittu, and its Secretary, Prince Akingbade, also criticised that the
total amount being paid to federal pensioners under the new pension
scheme as take home, after various deductions for Annuity or the
Programmed Withdrawals, are nothing to write home about.
They said this has further impoverished pensioners given the prevailing economic condition in the country.
Speaking on the
accrued interests arising from the Accrued Pension Benefits Bond with
the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), they disclosed that no federal
government pensioner has been paid the interest accrued from this bond
since the inception of the new pension scheme in 2004, and thereby,
called for payment of the entitlements.
"The Federal
Government through the Central Bank and PenCom still owe all categories
of contributory pensioners the accrued interests on their initial
entitlements since inception from July 2004, which was deposited with
the Central Bank as Bond. Therefore, we are demanding the calculation of
all accrued interests (on all monetised amounts) as at July 2004, at
the government's official interest rate," they said.
PenCom Spokesman,
Peter Aghahowa, who confirmed the non-payment of pension entitlements to
federal government retirees since 2017, however said the government had
released money for settlement up to February, but was yet to release
for those who retired from March 2017 till date.
Earlier, the
Chairman, NTA Association of Contributory Pensioners, Gbadebo Omolaja,
accused PenCom of not being proactive to the complaints and observations
of pensioners on the shortcomings in the system, adding that many
pensioners were yet to receive their entitlements almost a year after
retirement from service, and called on the Commission to address the
issue.
While appealing to
government to challenge PenCom on its responsibilities to pensioners,
they equally implored the National Assembly to extend its oversight
function to the Commission with regard to the welfare of contributory
pensioners, and make necessary amendment to the Pension Act, based on
all the observed shortcomings.
They said: "It is
our hope that PenCom would be alive to its responsibilities and the
welfare of the contributory pensioners, because the secrecy under which
PenCom operates is unexpected and worrisome."
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