Category: Pension

Anchor Insurance Company Limited  has unveiled a cover for air travellers. It is known as Local Passengers’ Flight Welfare Scheme.

Its Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer, Ebose Augustine Osegha, said the product also compensates lost wages during temporary or permanent disability.

Ebose maintained that this insurance protection would be run in accordance with the stipulated regulations on obligatory personal accidents insurance on transport, stating that passengers are considered insured from the processing of the check-in to unboarding and receipt of luggage(s).

The policy, he said, terminates from the point the passenger collects or takes his/her luggage at the arrival hall, adding that the passenger from his/her airport of take-off to that of destination in the country.

He said: “The benefits acruable from the product, he submitted from the time of announcement of boarding to the point of taking his/her luggage at the destination airport), any affected passenger shall be entitled to the following benefits: Financial lump sum payment to the passenger’s named beneficiary upon the occurrence of fatality or death of a passenger as a result of an accident while boarding or onboard the aircraft. Term payments to the passenger for injury sustained leading to disability as a result of accident occurring while boarding or onboard the aircraft.

“Other are term payments to the passenger for injury sustained leading to temporary loss of capacity to labour as a result of accident occurring while boarding or onboard the aircraft and medical expenses of up to N50,000 for passengers who suffer any injury as a result of an accident occurring while boarding or onboard the aircraft.” He added: All claims, including loss of baggage, are to be reported within 24 hours of the happening of such event. Incidence or cases of suspected or possible loss of luggage must be reported to Anchor Insurance Company Limited irrespective of the chances that the luggage would be later found.

“Claims payment would be made between thre and five working days upon complete documentation of the claim.”

ANNONYMOUS: Hello, I retired from the Nigeria Police in 2015.

I learnt President Mohammed Buhari has approved a minimum wage and subsequential adjustment  to pensioners.

Some federal establishment have received this money in arrears, including 2.5 per cent.

I want to know why PenCom has refused to remit it our various PFAs. Any time we demanded the money, they would reply that it had been paid to our PFAs.

But our PFAs denied this. If I may ask, what is happening and why has PenCom not remitted the said money to police retirees?

Most importantly, retirees in other federal establishment have collected their entitlement up to the last percentage.

My complaint is: PenCom has not released ours to our PFAs for payment. Why? Some of us suffered for this nation and the money should not be for a particular section. Mr. President has directed payment. How long will it take us to get the money?

PENCOM: Please be informed that the payments approved by the president have since been paid to the pension fund administrators (PFAs). Kindly liaise with your PFA for further assistance. Thank you.

OLATUNJI: Dear Madam, I have money in my account with my PFA. My company closed during the COVID-19 lockdown. Since then, I have not secured a job since.

I have approached my PFA to collect my contribution to start a business. My PFA said I could only be given 25 per cent of my contribution. I have pleaded with them that  this is not enough. But they are not listening. Please I need your help.

PENCOM: Please be advised that due to the balance in your RSA, you are only entitled to withdraw 25 per cent as lump sum while the balance will be spread as your monthly pension, kindly liaise with your pfa for further assistance. thank you.

CHUKWUKADIBIA: Good day, madam. I am Chukwukadibia. I registered with Premium Pensions Limited when I was a constable with the Nigeria Police. I later lost the phone. I no longer have access to  it. Worse still, I have not been receiving alerts and updates on my RSA from Premium for many years. I am now an Inspector of Police. Kindly help me to resolve this issue. Thanks in anticipation.

PENCOM: The complainant is advised to visit Premium Pensions Limited to update his record and request to receive alerts

ABDULLAHI: Good day, my name is Abdullahi, the son of the late Inspector Etubi. You earlier informed me that everything had been settled.

We were asked to provide our father’s name and RSA PIN to enable the commission to investigate further, which we have provided. We were told in The Nation that we were among the next batch to be paid. But we are yet to get anything.

Kindly help.

PENCOM: Investigation has shown that there is no such information in our database. Kindly visit your PFA to ensure that your documents are further submitted to the Commission.

HASSAN: I am Hassan. My RSA shows that there was no remittance by my employer in 2015, 2016, 2017 and part of 2014 and 2018. Please help find out why.

PENCOM: Please write to the commission, stating the non-remittance of your contributions by your employer.

ANNONYMOUS: I retired in June 2016 from Federal Polytechnic, Bida. I was paid my benefits in July 2017 through my PFA, Premium Pension. I then transferred to Leadway for Annuity.

The Federal Government has released money to pay 2.5 per cent of the amount it is owing. I am being owed 24 months. When and how will this money be paid?

PENCOM: Please note that if the amount payable is less than N100,000, it will be paid into your bank account. However, for payments above N100,000, you are advised to purchase a second annuity from a Retiree Life. Annuity (RLA) provider.

GIMBA: Good day. My name is Gimba from Federal Polytechnic, Bida. My complaint is about the non-release of my pension since October 2020.

We, the Southwest Congress of the Federal Colleges of Education Union of Pensioners, acting for the senior citizens of this country, were alarmed to hear the character assassination by one of the senior citizens of this country, Mr. Abiodun Samuel, who went to Channels Television to allege that the Pensions Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) had gone comatose in the discharge of its duties.

While Mr. Abiodun might have one misgiving or the other about PTAD, we make no pretenses about the fact that his claim is rather, not only untrue but malicious. Of course, it would be an exaggeration to say that there have never been glitches in the payment of pensions, it is clear that such do not translate into inaction.

To put the records straight, PTAD has performed far above average in the discharge of its duties towards us.

When problems arise with payment of one or two pensioners, PTAD, especially under the supervision of the executive secretary, has so far been very quick to respond to our complaints which are within a question of days. We got badly worried by the claim of our colleague for fear that it is capable of dampening the spirit of the Pensions Management Body (PTAD).

If you have been very active and responsive in handling pensioners’ issues but you get apathy instead of commendation the consequence is obvious. To be factual, pensioners have never been as fortunate as we have been under the Administration of President Muhammadu Buhari. We remain eternally grateful to him for his empathy. It is on record that he had directed that pensions be paid on or before the 25th of every month at the inception of his administration! Nothing can be better than this, although this has hardly been realisable due to some logistic reasons largely associated with the Accountant- General’s Office/ the Central Bank.

To realise the dream of our dear president in this regard, I want to appeal to the Accountant-General’s Office and the CBN to kindly give monthly pensions first-line charge so that PTAD’s effort can be seen and felt in carrying out Mr. President’s directive on the prompt payment of pensions.

We appeal to our fellow senior citizens to intimate the Executive Secretary (ES) of PTAD, Dr. Chioma Ejikeme, as well as the directors, with their complaints before going to the press. We are sure that this approach works as  Dr. Ejikeme would be on the neck of her directors until issues are resolved.

This has happened before as the no-nonsense ES would fix issues with dispatch. Let us give praises to whom it is due, please.

• Dr. Stephen Akinnifesi, Fatusin Chairman

Access Holdings Plc is set to acquire majority equity stake in First Guarantee Pension Limited.

Access Holdings, trading as Access Corporation, announced its entry into a deal with First Guarantee on the acquisition.

The Group Company Secretary, Sunday Ekwochi, in a statement said the transaction was a step in the Corporation’s evolution from banking into a financial service holding company positioned to gain scale across Africa, global monetary centres, and beyond-banking verticals.

According to her, the National Pension Commission (PenCom) and the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) have given their nod to the transaction, the completion of which is subject to the receipt of approvals.

She noted that the Corporation will update the market as appropriate and in accordance with its disclosure obligations.

The Group Chief Executive Officer, Access Corporation, Dr. Herbert Wigwe, said: “This transaction is a natural evolution for us. Over the last 20 years, we set our sights on and delivered ambitious plans to transform the African financial services landscape focusing on banking and have created the African leading Bank and largest bank by customer base.

“This large customer base both on the wholesale and retail segments makes the pension business a natural fit for the Corporation given its objective of ecosystem optimisation. We will leverage our well-established culture of strong corporate governance, risk Management, cutting-edge technology, and digital capabilities to deliver high standards of professionalism in the management of pension assets to the benefit of our stakeholders.”

GEORGE: I am George, a pensioner with federal share. I have been logging into the website (www.ptad.gov.ng) for the “I AM ALIVE” pilot scheme but the computer keeps telling me that I am not selected. Please verify and let me know. PTAD might have sent the text message in error.

Meanwhile, I am yet to see the reaction of my last enquiry in The Nation.

PTAD: Please note that only 50,000 pensioners were selected for the Pilot Phase. We will get to  pensioners in due course.

BAYI: BAYI: My name is Comrade Bayi from Jos Plateau. I retired in April 1999 from FBN Plc. They started paying me pension in May 2011. Since then, my pension arrears haven’t been paid. Verification was done in 2017. We were told to wait for payment but nothing has been done till date. I also haven’t received my arrears for 11 months, though I saw the first one for seven months. While PTAD says it has paid N70 billion to pensioners, many pensioners and NOKs from Plateau State have not been settled.

PTAD: You will do well to provide detailed bank statement from period of complaint till date.

PAUL: My name is Paul. My pension from August 1997 to July 2018, has not been paid.

PTAD: Please provide your bank statement for period you complained about.

GYET: My name is Gyet, my pension arrears for six years have not been paid.

PTAD: Please provide your bank statement fot period of complaint till date

GOKOP: I am Gokop. I have not been placed on pension payroll since February 2010 till date.

PTAD: Kindly provide the bank statement from period of complaint till date

Mohammed: Good day. I am Mohammed. I have not been placed on pension payroll.

PTAD: Complainant should provide the bank statement for the period.

MEDU: I am Medu. I retired in 2006 under the Old NEPA/PHCN and by transition from NELMCO to PTAD. My monthly pension for January and March 2015 was omitted. After my complaint, I did what I was told to do. I went to PTAD up to five times but to my surprise, each time I went there, they would tell me ‘no funds’ yet to pay. My complaints were published several times in The Nation.

Please intervene and recover my arrears, including my gratuity and omitted three months’ arrears as contained in my verification with PTAD. I have also not been paid minimum wage arrears as contained in my complaints form, which I submitted on July 5, 2021 to PTAD office.

PTAD: You are to provide your bank statement to enable us treat your case.

MURITALA: Dear Omobola. Thank you so much for the wonderful job you have been doing. God will bless you. My name is Muritala Bolaji Morufu. I resigned from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in 1996. My entitlement has been paid to September 2020. But to my surprise, the monthly payment from October to December 2020 has not been paid. Please assist me so that my monthly due for these months can be paid.

Following my compliant through this newspaper of May 12, last year and PTAD’s request that I should submit some documents, which I did with affidavit, nothing has been done. Note that I forwarded the documents plus the affidavit on June 12, last year.

PTAD: Pensioner to avail him/herself for verification in our head office or Lagos office. If he has been verified, then should send verification slip to complaints@ptad.gov.ng

IRIOGBE: Good day, my name is Iriogbe, a NIPOST retiree. My phone had been inundated with requests from some colleagues who want to know if PTAD has stopped the on-line verification of Federal Government pensioners. They are worried that after some pensioners were chosen to do same, they are yet to be asked to do theirs and this has caused a lot of worries to them, fearing it may eventually lead to removal of their names from payroll.

They are not tired of phoning me, having known that I have done my late last year. Please, clarify.

PTAD: This is just the Pilot Phase of the ‘I Am Alive’ confirmation and as such only a few pensioners were selected to try out the application.

OWARI: My name is Owari, the non-payment of my pension for over a year is worrisome to me. I am still alive. I need my pension   to attend my needs and that of my wife. We are in a vulnerable condition to survive. I urge the newspaper to treat my case as a Save my Soul (SOS) agenda. Thank you.

PTAD: The payment of Mr. Owari has been computed. He will be paid as soon as the Directorate gets fund in line with his case.

MABAWONKU: My name is Mabawonku, a federal/state pensioner. I worked with Nigeria Educational Research and Development Centre (NERDC) from September 14, 1982 to July 6, 1993. I joined the Lagos State civil Service on July 15, 1993 and retired on January 26, 2008 as a Director. The government has paid their  share of gratuity and pension in 2010 but that of the federal share has not been paid up till today despite demands in writing. I am owed gratuity and six months’pension arrears from January to July 1993.

I took part in the  verification with PTAD at the Tafawa Balewa Square in Lagos on April 23, 2019. I submitted bank statements (from 2008 to date)  and  other documents as requested by PTAD. My original pension file has been retrieved from NERDC by PTAD since November 2017. With the conditions met since 2019, the gratuity and pension arrears have not been paid. Kindly help.

PTAD: Kindly provide a bank statement for the period of complaint. Thank you.

Oyibo: Please I am Peter Oyibo. God bless all of you. I was born on June 10, 1968. I am 54 years. I was employed by the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) on December 9, 1991 and retired in January 2005. I took part in the last verification. I am owned nine years’ pension arrears. Please pay me and place me on monthly payroll. My account  number is: Access Bank 0043942375  Thanks.(07031212581)

The National Pension Commission (PenCom) has started its online verification and enrolment for prospective retirees and retirees of Federal Government Treasury Funded Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), the Director-General, Mrs. Aisha Dahir-Umar has said.

Announcing this, Mrs. Dahir-Umar, called on prospective retirees to ensure that they undergo the compulsory Data Recapture Exercise (DRE).

She promised retirees an hitch-free exercise and enjoined them to seek more information from its website and  guidance from any Pension Fund Administartors (PFAs).

She stated that the exercise was aimed at validating the accrued pension liabilities of government for the retirees.

She said accrued pension right represents an employee’s benefit for past years of service from the date of his or her first appointment to June 30, 2004 when the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) took off.

She further stated that payment of accrued right is in line with Section 15 of the Pension Reform Act, 2014 (PRA, 2014), which notes that payment of accrued pension benefits  which an employee is entitled under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS).

She said: “The accrued right is a component of the Retirement Savings Account (RSA) of the employee to be accessed upon retirement. In the past, the enrolment and verification  for the eligible employees was carried out physically in different locations around the country. However, following the experience of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, which restricted the movement of persons, PenCom designed and developed an online Enrolment Application with the capabilities to register, verify and enrol the prospective retirees.

“The exercise is for employees of Federal Government Treasury- Funded MDAs who are scheduled to retire in 2022. The exercise would also accommodate FGN retirees of  the previous years. However, prospective retirees must ensure that they undergo the compulsory DRE. The DRE is to ensure that eligible employees have updated their personnel information as well as the National Identity Number (NIN). The enrolment and verification exercise happens in three phases which include Registration, Verification, and Enrolment.”

On registration, the PenCom boss said the commission has provided two options for the registration.

“There is the self-assisted and the Pension Desk Officer (PDO)/Pension Fund Administrator (PFA)-assisted processes. Under the self-assisted online process, retirees/prospective retirees visit PenCom’s website (www.pencom.gov.ng) to register.The information is displayed on the home page. A click on the enrolment tab would reveal a drop down box that shows the step-by-step procedure for enrolment. This phase requires the user to register his or her personal and employment details and upload the supporting documents.

“On the other hand, the PDO/PFA option entails obtaining the assistance of the PDO or the PFA for the process. It simply means that eligible retirees, who for various reasons, are unable to register online on PenCom’s website can register through the PDOs in the MDAs. Such eligible retirees can also go to their PFAs to carry out the registration. The PDOs and PFAs would guide the retiree through the process of registration and to upload the supporting documents.”

On verification, she said: “In line with the PRA 2014, the PFAs are responsible for verifying the retirees or prospective retirees. The  exercise entails that the PFAs must ensure that the details provided by the retiree or prospective retiree are correct. The PFAs are to further assist with the documentation by sighting the original or certified true copies of documents submitted by the retirees and ensure that the documents collected are uploaded.

“For enrolment, the PFAs are also responsible for enrolment of the retirees or prospective retirees. This process entails capturing the biometric data of the retiree/prospective retiree, including live passport photograph. Thereafter, the PFA shall print two copies of the Registration Slip (Enrolment Slip), for the prospective retiree to sign. The said enrolment slip shall thereafter be counter signed by the Enrollment Officer and a copy would be given to the prospective retiree.

“It is important that the retiree or prospective retiree should ensure that he or she has the documentation required for registration. This can be found on PenCom’s website.’’

ABDULKADIR: Kudos to the National Pension Commission (PenCom). I retired in June last year but since then I have had a health problem such that I didn’t do the online registration. This was also because I was unable to get an introduction letter and record of service from my former employee.  Is there any way I could do the registration without these two items and is it true that I will not be paid because I have wasted time? I am looking forward to your response. My PFA is Trustfund Pension. Thank you.

PENCOM: Please be informed that you can liaise with your employer to assist with the online registration.  Thank you.

ABUBAKAR: Hello, my name is Abubakar, a next-of-kin. The president’s approval of outstanding pension said something about 2014 retirees. But my father died in 2013. Will his death benefit also be paid or not? How long does it take for you to do so? Thank you

PENCOM: Please note that for your late father’s death benefits to be paid, you must submit some documents to his Pension Fund Administrator (PFA) for processing. If you have done this, please forward to the commission the following details: his RSA PIN, name, name of PFA as well as other vital information to enable the commission investigate further. Thank you.

OZURUONYE: Good Day. My name is Ozuruonye. Please where is Stanbic IBTC Pensions in Owerri, Imo State. Thank you.

PENCOM: The address with Stanbic IBTC Pension, Owerri, Imo State is Shirley Mall, 32, Ekwema Crescent, Ikemegbu Layout, Beside Kilimanjaro Fast Food, Owerri.

IBRAHIM: Good day. My name is Hussaini Sani Ibrahim. I was a staff member of Revenue Mobilisation Allocation  and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC). I retired on February 1, 2021. I was verified on November 18, last year and was issued with Retirement Benefit Enrolement Slip. My questions are: When will I receive my lumpsum and start receiving my monthly pension? Will I be paid the monthly pension arrears from February, 2021  till date? And how long does it take before you transfer my accrued pension rights to my RSA account with my PFA?

PENCOM: Please forward your RSA PIN, name as well as the name of your Pension Fund Administrator (PFA) to enable the commission investigate further. Thank you.

MNAME: Good Day, My name is Mname. Please can you help us intervene in retirees’ affairs with Premium Pension. Their desk officers seem not to be updated with the new regulations on retirement benefits. I was told the regulations haven’t been sent to them from PenCom. They said they were yet to be given the go-ahead to verify this year’s retirees. They are not advising the retirees on the documents to present as specified in the new regulation. Does it mean that this year’s retirees can’t verify? I will also like to know if retirees on the Programmed Withdrawal enjoys life pension and if it is the same for Annuity

PENCOM: Mr. Mname needs to fill a form and send his PIN to enable us follow up.

OJEBOLA: I retired on November 13, 2013. My documents were duly submitted to the Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC) on September 23, 2021. My Pension Fund Administrator (PFA) is Stanbic IBTC. My pension benefits is long overdue since then. I have made calls to LASPEC but it has not yielded any results. Kindly find out the cause of the delay.

PENCOM: Please provide details- name, PFA, PIN

ADESHINA: Good Day. I work with the NPF and was enlisted in 2016. I have not received my pension. Complaints have been made but to no avail. I transferred to NPF Pension Limited from Trustfund Pensions Limited and my balance in the later has been transferred to the former. However, no remittance from my employer has been made. Kindly assist.

ADEOYE: Good day. My name is Adeoye. Since FCMB Pension took over my account from AIICO Pension, I lose about N2,000 in my account monthly. Kindly help me.

IBITAYO: I am Ibitayo. My employer’s name is Superflux International Limited. I left employment in April 2012. I was 50 years old in October 2021. My PFA, Stanbic IBTC Pension said I could only take 25 per cent bulk payment and I applied for the payment. After documentation was completed, Stanbic IBTC Pension requested for bankers’ confirmation of my signature which l supplied. But they have refused to pay my pension, saying they were waiting for PenCom. However, I was informed that I could take more than what you offered me. I will like PenCom to tell me my status. Thank you.

AYINDE: I am Ayinde from the University of Ilorin. I wish to request for remittance of my pension contribution from April 2016 to January 2020. However, I have earlier sent a letter of complaint with relevant documents to the commission, and was acknowledged on April 22, 2022. Thank you.

THE NATION: The newspaper will intervene. Therefore ADESINA, ADEOYE, IBITAYO and AYINDE should look out for the newspaper next week for responses from PenCom1.

A total number of 14,836 pensioners in the Civil Service Pension Department (CSPD) are being overpaid, the Executive Secretary, Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), Dr. Chioma Ejikeme has said.

She made this known during a meeting with the executive members of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) and the Federal Civil Service Pensioners Branch (FCSPB) in Abuja.

She said the Directorate would begin to pay the affected pensioners their accurate monthly pension from next month.

She informed the unions of the Directorate’s plan to properly place pensioners in the Civil Service Pension Department (CSPD) who were being overpaid on their accurate monthly pension.

She said: “Following the expanded computation project embarked on by the Directorate in 2020, and going through the career documents submitted by pensioners during verification, it was discovered that 14,836 pensioners in the Civil Service Pension Department were being overpaid.

“At the end of the meeting, both parties agreed that the affected pensioners will be contacted and informed of the Directorate’s plan to properly place them on the right monthly pension from the month of July 2022, while the modalities to recover the overpayment will be worked out in due course”.

At the event were the NUP National President, Mr. Godwin Abumisi’s representive/the National Trustee, Northwest, Mr. Abdullahi Tsoho Garba and Comrade Bankole Sule, who represented the Chairman, Federal Civil Service Pensioners Branch, among other executive members.

 

 

The Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) is driving a campaign to promote agricultural innovation, good farm practices and address rural poverty, DANIEL ESSIET writes.

Agriculture  plays a vital role not only in the West African subregion, but also in Europe, Asia and North America.

Agriculture accounts for exports to Europe and Asia.

Yet, despite its record of success, agriculture is underperforming. As such, effort must be made to  unlock its vast potential.

In recognition of its importance, Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) has been at the forefront of a comprehensive agriculture development plan to increase and transform the region into a strategic player in food production, increase exports and reduce rural poverty.

However, the challenges to success are many.

Economies in the region have swelled, but agriculture has not kept pace.

For ECOWAS, the region offers great farming opportunities thanks to its soil, climate and geographical location.

To address this, in 2020, the Speaker of ECOWAS Parliament, Sidie Tunis, urged his colleagues and members of Parliament to pressurise their home governments to increase budgetary allocation to agriculture.

He said poor funding of agriculture, particularly amid the effects of COVID-19 pandemic, would lead to severe food shortages and hunger in the ECOWAS region.

Addressing reporters in Guinea Bissau at the delocalised meeting to discuss agriculture, food security and COVID-19, the speaker said the region was witnessing shortfall in supply of food.

He stressed that the legislature was working hard to ensure that all the decisions taken in the ECOWAS, especially on agriculture and food security are implemented in the national assemblies of member countries.

Last year, the community said the region required about $43.5million to achieve uniform self-sufficiency in rice production in the region by 2025.

According to the community, total domestic production in the region covers only 60 per cent of the population and with the three per cent consumption growth rate yearly.

To achieve self-sufficiency in rice production in West Africa, the ECOWAS Commission and partners had announced a new Regional Action Plan to implement its rice policy, commonly known as the “Rice Offensive.” The goal set by the “Regional Rice Offensive” of ECOWAS member states was to produce 24 million tonnes of milled rice, projected to be consumed in the region, by 2025.

ECOWAS Commissioner of Agriculture, Environment and Water Resources, Mr. Sekou Sangare, said in Abuja, that the Economic Community of West Africa Agricultural Policy (ECOWAP) donor roundtable would follow to mobilise required resources to implement the action plan.

According to him, producing enough rice to feed the region would require concerted effort and an effectively coordinated synergy of actions from rice stakeholders in the region, to achieve the desired outcome.

To improve reporting of development along the rice value chain in the member countries the Community has established ECOWAS Rice Observatory (ERO) to catalyse the development of the West African rice sector.

Delivering the fourth Grace Foundation Day Lecture entitled: “Can Nigeria achieve food security in 2023?” at the International Conference Centre, University of Ibadan, last month, Executive Secretary, ECOWAS ERO, Dr Boladale Adebowale, warned that about 19.4 million Nigerians will face food crisis, and nutrition insecurity by August.

The crisis, according to Adebowale, was being fuelled by the fact that crop production was not meeting population growth, while the nation’s agricultural sector was threatened by insecurity, adverse weather conditions, and climate change.