Tag Archives: Pensioners

Niger Government Approves 2.06 Billion Naira To Pay Pensioners

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The Niger state government has approved the release of 2.06billion Naira for pensioners under the old pension scheme.

Niger state Head of Service, Mr. Yabagi Sule and the Director General Niger state Pension Board, Hon. Usman Muhammad, made the disclosure in separate addresses at the opening of a two day workshop for management and staff of the State Pension Board.

The Head of Service who was represented by the Permanent Secretary Human Resources, Mr. Yahaya Abubakar, said the 8billion Naira was domiciled with the National Pension Commission.

He described the contributory pension scheme as very germane in the whole pension business because it touches the lives of retirees.

He added that the misconceptions about the CPS is as a result of lack of training which he said the workshop was designed to arrest.

Mr. Abubakar, however, hinted that a new pension law that would ensure regular payment of pension and gratuities but did not elaborate.

Meanwhile, Hon. Mohammad made it known that over 1000 retirees had been paid over 1billion Naira while another batch of 569 retirees would be paid any moment from now.

He noted that the state and local government pensioners have been receiving their monthly pensions promptly because the governor has instructed that it should be a first line charge.

He assured that all matters “standing against the CPS will be dealt with very soon, we will have a clearer picture of it not too long from now”.

 

Source: Channels TV

Pay Us Our Outstanding Arrears Before Leaving Office – Ondo Pensioners Tell Mimiko

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Retirees at the Rufus Giwa Polytechnic Owo (RUGIPO) in Ondo State have asked the outgoing Governor Olusegun Mimiko to offset their outstanding pension arrears before the handing over of his administration to a new government.

The retirees claimed that Mr. Mimiko’s outgoing government owed them an accumulated pension arrears of over N912,727,324.85 which have not been paid since December 31, 2016.

They made the demand for the payment of their entitlements in a press statement issued shortly after their annual general meeting held inside the institution’s campus at the weekend.

The statement was signed by their Chairman, Rufus Oguntoyinbo, and General Secretary, Steven Olufawoye, and was obtained by SaharaReporters in Akure on Sunday.

The pensioners, in the statement, disclosed how they had been suffering and undergoing hardship due to the outgoing government’s refusal to pay their salaries and pensions.

They lamented and explained how a fellow pensioner suddenly died on his sick bed as he could not raise the small sum of N500 to buy his regular prescribed medicine.

The retirees also stated that no fewer than fifty-seven of their colleagues, who had been a part of the struggle since 2006, had died mysteriously without receiving their arrears and wages.

They specifically blamed the outgoing governor, who will hand over the government on Thursday, for their predicament, stating that all the promises made by Mr. Mimiko to offset the debt were not fulfilled.

The aggrieved pensioners also fingered the immediate past Rector of the Rufus Giwa Poly, Igbekele Ajibefun, of being responsible for their misfortune.

They accused Mr. Ajibefun of not implementing a report of the State House of Assembly directing the institution to pay the outstanding arrears of the retirees.

“The Assembly directed that the management of the polytechnic should pay retirees the arrears of pension and gratuity as from 2006 to date.

“That management of the institution should commence the full payment of pensions to all retirees in accordance with enhanced salaries from 2001 to date.

“The financial implication of placing the affected pensioners on the enhanced pension increase rate is about N600,000 per month; which we expect management to add to the monthly wage bill.

“Ajibefun, who could not afford to release that amount to the monthly pension of some retirees, autocratically collected ?N49,600,000 as his gratuity at the end of his four years in office at the polytechnic.

“We are making the whole world, especially the incoming administration in Ondo State, know the predicaments of the retirees of the State Polytechnic,” the statement read in part.


Source: Sahara Reporters

Pensioners beg Ikpeazu to pay 3 years’ arrears.

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Pensioners of Abia State University Teaching Hospital have urged Okezie Ikpeazu, governor of the state, to use part of the refund given to the state from Paris debt deductions to settle their three years pension arrears.

Victor Nwogwugwu, chairman of the hospital’s pensioners, made the appeal in an interview with NAN.

He said the government should use part of the N10 billion it got from the refund to pay up the arrears.

“We the ABSUTH pensioners want to remind the governor that when the first federal government bail-out fund was received by Abia state, salaries were paid with it but we did not benefit from it,” he said.

“Now that the governor has made a promise to pay up workers salary arrears with half of the money he has received from Paris Club, he should remember ABSUTH pensioners and workers.

“We are human beings but have kept quiet over the bad treatment given us until now.

“The government should reciprocate our good gesture of peace with the reward of paying up our three years pension arrears.”

Nwogwugwu lamented that for three years the government had neglected, and left them to suffer.

He said many of them had died, explaining that most of those who passed on were unable to access medical services due to poverty following non-payment of their pension.

Our reforms will ease pensioners’ hardships – Buhari

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President Muhammadu Buhari on Monday assured that his administration’s reforms would ensure that Nigerians who spent the “productive years of their lives serving the nation” would not experience difficulties in getting their pensions.

 

A statement by the president’s Senior Special Assistant on Media and Publicity, Garba Shehu, said Mr. Buhari gave the assurance at a meeting with Sharon Ikeazor, the Executive Secretary, Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) at the State House, Abuja.

 

The statement said the president directed a speedy completion of the ongoing nationwide verification of pensioners.

 

“President Buhari stressed that the exercise was necessary because the success of the administration’s goal of putting in place an efficient pension scheme hinged on the availability of a reliable database,” the statement said.

 

In a presentation to the president, Mrs. Ikeazor said the PTAD management was determined to restore dignity to pensioners by protecting their funds and paying their entitlements promptly.

 

According to her, in line with the anti-corruption posture of the current administration, the PTAD had put in place measures to ensure accountability, compliance with regulations and zero-tolerance for corruption.

Military, eTranzact launch e-payment cards for pensioners.

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E-payment service provider, eTranzact International Plc, in collaboration with the Military Pensions Board, has launched an electronic payment card to offer identification, verification and rewards to all members of the Nigerian armed forces.

 

The card will allow over 100,000 retired members of the Army, Navy and Airforce access a biometric military pension card with a 4-in-1 value proposition: identification, verification, rewards, including receiving and making payments.

Speaking at the launch of the card in Abuja, the Founder/CEO of eTranzact International, Valentine Obi, said: “We are happy to be key partners in this great and commendable project in support of our courageous ex-service personnel and military pensioners. The resilience and courage of the Nigerian military is a source of joy to everyone and we hope that this pension card project not only solves identification and verification issues for the military but also gives the private sector an opportunity to offer special rewards and discounts.”

 

According to eTranzact, the card offers immense benefits to its recipients as it can be tied to a bank account, attached to a mobile money wallet or operated as a stand-alone reloadable card.

Other benefits like a five per cent discount on airtime top-up, discounts on airline tickets, restaurant discounts, etc., are other benefits that are possible with the card.

FG Pays 81 Months Pension Arrears

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The Federal Government has paid 81 months pension arrears which were incurred from 33 per cent pension increment but left 87 months outstanding.

The money was paid to Police, Customs, Immigration, Prisons  and civil service pensioners.

A detailed  breakdown of paid pension arrears and outstanding months were made available to journalists in Abuja, when the Senate Committee on Establishment and Public Service, chaired by Senator Emmanuel Paulker, visited the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate for its oversight functions.

According to the documents, three months of 33 per cent increment were paid to Police Pension Department, leaving outstanding of 39 months to Customs, Immigration and Prisons Pension Department which had all its 42 months arrears paid off.

The Parastatals Pension Department had its 12 months arrears paid to leave 30 months outstanding.

The Civil Service Pension Department was paid 24 months leaving 18 months outstanding.
Similarly, the 33 percent pension payment came as a fall out of the upward review of the minimum wage to N18,000 in 2010.

News Of Death Of 1,005 Kwara Pensioners Is False And Misleading – APC

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The All Progressives Congress in Kwara State has said media reports that claimed 1,005 pensioners died in Kwara State is false and misleading.

In a statement signed by the State Publicity Secretary of the APC, Sulyman Buhari, the party advised journalists to demand verifiable and credible documents from interviewees when interviewees make wide and false claims.

As a government and party, we are always in close interaction with the leadership of labour unions in Kwara State. There is no such record that 1,005 pensioners died since April 2015 as a result of unpaid pension allowances. The report is utterly false and misleading.

The entire public should also note that the Kwara State Government is up to date with payment of salaries and entitlements to State workers and pensioners.

Between the period of April 2015 and August 2016, some workers who were not owed a dime had died. Would it have been right to link the circumstances of their deaths to issues pertaining to salaries?

As a party, we are aware that the local government administrations are struggling to meet financial obligations especially to some pensioners but it doesn’t warrant such falsehood as being promoted by some pensioners.

We wish to assure the pensioners that the Kwara State governor, Alhaji Abdulfatah Ahmed is working with chairmen of local councils to resolve the issues relating to entitlements of retirees.

CBN Pensioners Elect New Executives

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The Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) Pensioners’ Club, the umbrella body of all CBN Pensioners which came into existence in 1993 with its National Headquarters in Lagos and branches at all CBN locations across Nigeria, has elected new National Executive Committee to take over from the immediate past Committee led by Chief Abidoye Akinlade. The last EXCO was in power for the last four years – from March 16, 2012 to March 18, 2016, having completed two terms of two years each.

At a very well attended bi-annual National Conference held at its National Headquarters in Lagos, on March 18, 2016, in which delegates from 21 (twenty-one) branches within the federation, including Abuja, attended and actively participated, a new National Executive Committee (EXCO) was elected.  The meeting which was held at the Conference Room, CBN Learning Centre, Alakija, Satellite Town, Lagos, produced Mr. Omoyemi R. Banjo, a former Branch Controller, (B/C), Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), Minna branch, Niger State, to pilot its affairs for the next two years.

The full list of the officers elected to serve in the National Executive Committee (EXCO) including 1. Mr. Omoyemi R. Banjo – President, 2. Chief Charles M. E. Katecgy -1st Vice-President, 3. Mr. Bon. Onwubualili   – 2nd Vice-President, 4.,Mr. Nicholas U. Mbah -General Secretary, 5.Mr. Michael O. Akinbola  -Asst. General Secretary, 6. Chief Chimezie C. Ahaneku -Publicity Secretary/P.R.O, 7. Mr. Barth E. Eyo  -Asst. Publicity Secretary, 8. Mrs. Francisca K. Arueze -Treasurer, 9. Mr. Charles Ugbulu  -Financial Secretary, 10. Mallam Al-Hassan A. Bala -Asst. Financial Secretary, 11. Mr. Anthony Egbenyor    -Provost (1), 12. Mr. Jamiu a. Akanbi  -Provost (2)

Constitutionally, the newly elected EXCO members shall hold office for two years in the first instance, but are also eligible for re-election for another term at the end of their current tenure if any of them so wishes.

In a brief acceptance speech, the newly elected President of the club, Mr. Omoyemi R. Banjo, thanked the pensioners for giving him the mandate to lead them at this very moment and assured  he and his team will strive their utmost to justify the confidence reposed in them by rendering good service to all.

He further promised that, with their full support and co-operation, he and his team will do their very best to ensure that CBN Pensioners are not in any way short-changed by anybody but rather, receive what is legitimately due to them.

The CBN Pensioners’ Club which is always guided by its Constitution, has, as its primary objectives, the bringing under one forum, all CBN Pensioners in order to foster closer interaction among them and thus promote the interests, welfare and well-being of all its members.  Most importantly, it is also the only association or organisation of CBN Pensioners that is officially recognised by the CBN management and serves as the link between the CBN and its pensioners, through the regular communication and discussions that usually take place from time to time between the management and the Club’s NEXCO, on all matters affecting the pensioners whenever the need arose.

As has always been the tradition, a formal letter from the club officially conveying this information together with the above list of the newly elected National Executive Officers of the CBN Pensioners’ Club, is to be forwarded to the CBN management in the next few days for official record purposes.

Credit: Sun

Federal Retirees Decry Delay In Pension Payment By PFAs

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Some Federal Civil Service retirees on Wednesday in Lagos, decried late payment of their monthly pensions more than six months after retirement.

 

The retirees, who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), were unhappy that they had not been paid the monthly stipend from their savings with the Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs).

 

NAN reports that the Pension Reform Act came into effect on July 1, 2014 to govern and regulate the administration of the contributory pension scheme for both public and private sectors.

 

Under the Act, both employer and employee are required to make a minimum of 10 per cent and eight per cent contributions respectively.

 

Former President Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration had introduced the new pension scheme to address the problems associated with non-payment of pensions for several years by the previous administrations.

 

A retiree, Mr Stanley Moses, told NAN that in spite of efforts made to collate, fill and submit all necessary documents to his PFA after retirement, his PFA had failed to pay his money.

 

“I do not know why my PFA has not called me or pay any money into my account. I have filled all the forms they requested, but I have not heard from them,’’ he said.

 

“It has not been easy living without monthly income since I retired … my little savings is gradually being depleted.’’

 

Mr Zubby Emelike, who also disengaged after 35 years in service, lamented that because of the delay in the payment of the pension, he could not afford some essential drugs for his ailment.

 

“I appeal to the PFA to release my money. I cannot understand why I have not been able to receive any money one year after I retired.

 

“I have to pay house rent, feed my family and take care of my hospital bills as well. But it is becoming very difficult for me to cope without any income since I retired in March 2015,’’ Emelike said.

 

Contacted for his comment, Mr Oladetohun Jacob, the Regional Manager, Lagos Region Trustfunds Pensions Plc, hinged the delay on failure of the Federal Government to release the bonds.

 

According to Jacob, it takes about two years for government to release the bonds to PFAs being the money due to workers before the 2004 Contributory Pension Scheme.

 

“The bonds will facilitate remittance of such funds into PFAs which will in turn credit the accounts of retirees.’’

 

He noted that if the bonds were released on time, request by PFAs asking pensioners to fill some forms should not take more than two weeks, so that they could start receiving their pensions.

 

Also commenting on the issue, Mr Wabba Ayuba, the President, Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), said the National Pension Commission (PenCom) should speak out on the hydra-headed problem.

 

“PenCom will be in the right position to explain why retirees should wait for so long before getting their money. It should explain the terms of such bonds and why it should take over a year to enable a retiree access his or her money.’’

 

NAN also reports that the Pension Act provides that aggrieved employee is obligated to approach PenCom for a redress before commencing an action at the National Industrial Court.

 

(NAN)

Pensioners Demand Payment Of 42 Months Arrears

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As part of the annual celebration of the Pensioners’ Day, the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) has demanded the payment of its members’ 42 months pension arrears without further delay.

In a communique released after its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja, the NUP also called on the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) to quickly address the problems being encountered by pensioners in the ongoing biometric/verification exercise.

The pensioners appealed to the Office of the Accountant General, Budget Office of the Federation and PTAD to work together towards ensuring that their pensions are paid as at when due.

“We demand that the arrears of 42 months of 33 per cent pension increase should be paid without further delay. We also demand the balance of 20.4 per cent that is overdue,” the communique, signed by the national president of NUP, Dr. Abel Afolayan, and the general secretary, Elder Actor Zal, said.

Credit: Leadership

Pensioners Want Buhari To Revisit PHCN Sale

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A passionate call has been made to President Muhammadu Buhari by the pensioners of Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to revisit the sale agreement of the company as part of the efforts to sanitise the power sector and save funds for the country.

Leading the pensioners in a chat with newsmen, Alhaji Idris Amasa, said the call was necessary as “PHCN buildings and the National Integrated Power Project (NIPP) were not included in the agreement”.

The pensioners spoke in Gombe during the weekend while making a case for their unpaid pension and arrears of salary.

According to him, PHCN pensioners were in penury and suffering as a result of their unpaid pension.

He said, “We pensioners are in great financial difficulty because of the non-payment of our pension and arrears as most of us do not have alternative means of income and cannot even pay our children’s school fees”.

Read More: dailytimes

Non-Payment Of Salaries, Osun Legislators To Rescue Aregbesola

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Bothered by the plight and inability of Governor Rauf Aregbesola of Osun state to pay workers and pensioners salaries, both the National and State Assemblies legislators will this tomorrow organise a conference aimed at salvaging the state government from the present predicament.

Tagged “Osun Stakeholders’ Conference – Our State, Our Stake,” the forum would bring stakeholders, including present and past leaders as well as religious leaders together.

Addressing a press conference at the weekend, members of the House of Representatives from Osun state led by Hon, Mrs Ayo Omidiran, said that the aim of the conference is to deliberate on how to liberate the state from the present situation. We hope they succeed at it

FG Spent Our Pensions On Jonathan’s Campaign- Pensioners

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Federal retirees, under the banner of Nigeria Union of Pensioners, on Thursday accused the Federal Government of using their 10 months unpaid contributory pension to support the electioneering campaign project of President Goodluck Jonathan.

They said the action subjected them to abject poverty.

The retirees made the allegation at a press conference in Abeokuta, Ogun State, while protesting their unpaid monthly pension.

They said over 20 of their colleagues died in the struggle to have their pension paid.

The over 100 protesters carried placards with various inscriptions such as “We have suffered enough after 35 years service to our fatherland”; “PenCom is owing retirees 10 months arrears of unpaid pension and gratuities”;  and” N4.6 trillion has been used for campaign, Abi na lie”.

The leader of the pensioners, Samuel Kojusola, said the association noticed some anomalies in government’s implementation of Reform Act 2014.

He listed them to include computation and compilation of retirement benefits, meagre amount paid as monthly pension, review of pension and non-payment of retirement benefits.

Mr. Kojusola said it was disheartening that workers all over the country who retired under the contributory pension scheme since August 2014 are yet to have their lump sum or monthly payment settled by the Commission

“What do they want the retiree to be eating after serving Federal Government of Nigeria for 35 years meritoriously? We suspect that our money in the kitty of Pencom has been used for 2015 electioneering campaign,” he said.

He also lamented that almost a year after the Pension Reform Act 2014 was signed into law, contributory pensioners in Nigeria were yet enjoy increment on their pension since 2007 till date.

The chairman said pension review was a constitutional right of any retiree in Nigeria as enshrined under Section 15(4) of the new Act.

He said, ‘Retirees have been complaining seriously on meagre amount paid as monthly pension either as monthly withdrawal or annuity. Contributory pensions received only 20-25% of their last pay as monthly pension, while a pensioner in the old pension scheme receives 80% of his last pay as monthly pension’

“Pension Reform Act 2004 section (4) stipulated that retirees will have not less than 50% of their last pay as monthly pension as at the date of their retirement. None of the retirees enjoy this amount since the inception of the act till date. Unfortunately the portion has been expunged from the new pension reform act 2014. What have we done to deserve this ugly treatment? This is a leeway for PFA’s to milk us perpetually,” the pensioners lamented.

Credit: premiumtimesng