The Nation Newspaper

Tag: arrears

  • Pension arrears: Open letter to acting President

    Without the slightest thought about the horrible implication of delayed payment of arrears of pensions and earned promotions to deserving but traumatized Nigerians, and especially senior citizens whose life span after retirement in this country is rather short as a result of the inhuman treatment of unnecessary delays and non-payment of their gratuities and pensions, the Honourable Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun came out with a bang that the Federal Government would issue promissory notes to pay contractors and other services rendered by some people.  Evidently, this is not our worry.  What is terrifying is the minister‘s proposed method of payment of pension arrears as well as arrears for earned promotions by public servants.  In her wisdom, she said that pensioners and employees would be paid not directly but by bonds.  Hear her: “Obligations owed to individuals (for example pensioners and employee benefit) will be paid and will be resolved through the issuance of bond instruments, phased over the next three years” (The Nation, July 13, p.6).  Now, one is greatly perturbed by this thinking.

    Ever since 2007 when I wrote an open letter to the late President Yar’Adua (of blessed memory) through this medium concerning the annual rituals of thousands of new retirees trooping to Abuja from different parts of the country for wicked verification, I have never given up writing on behalf of retirees.  I thought it was extreme wickedness arising from primitive thought of a people that new pensioners all over the country should converge on Abuja for such an inhuman and inhumane exercise.  It never occurred to people in the Nigerian government the hardship and danger of asking their senior citizens whom, in civilized countries, their government would strive to make comfortable, to find their ways to far away Abuja by road and at their own expenses.  In effect, many of these senior citizens would die from accident on their ways to Abuja, and those who landed in Abuja safely would be helpless as they have no place to stay other than under the bridges or uncompleted houses.

    As we all know, Abuja is a very expensive city to live in, and I don’t think any poor retiree can afford an hotel in Abuja even for one day!  I then asked why the Federal Government did not deem it fit to send a few officers to different locations in the country for the massive exercise.  Fortunately, after I wrote my letter to President Yar’Adua, the exercise in Abuja was cancelled all over the country.  I was one of the first beneficiaries of this cancellation as I did my verification that year, 2007, at the Obafemi Awolowo University, Ile-Ife while the same exercise was conducted at the OAU Teaching Hospital and the Federal Polytechnic, Ede.  Since then I had written more than six articles on pensions and pensioners including “Memo to President Jonathan on workers’ strike and pension arrears” ( The Nation, 18 November, 2010, p.19), “Pensions: Open Letter to the President” (The Nation, 24 January, 2014, p.21), “Okonjo-Iweala and Pensioners” (The Nation, 29 June, 2014, p,18); Governors,  workers, and salary arrears” (The Nation,  29 Sept, 2016, p. 18); “FG and pension arrears” (The Nation, 18 November, 2014, p.21), “Pensioners: Open letter to President Buhari” (The Nation on  Sunday, 13 November, 2016, p.18) being the last amongst others.  This last letter elicited a series of comments and responses, bordering on appreciation and prayers from pensioners all over the country mostly from the North and South-east, and many from South-south and South-west. Osinbajo should not allow the present be like the past”.

    Now, acting President, your Minister of Finance had flown what I believed must be a kite that arrears of pensions and promotion entitlements would be paid with bonds!  I say, please stop her, just as former President Obasanjo did when his Finance Minister made a similar sinister proposal.  Let me brief you by recounting one of my write-ups on this particular matter, viz, “FG and pension arrears”, November 18, 2014 above.  Excerpts:

    “Chief Olusegun Obasanjo, as president, showed a tremendous respect and sympathy for pensioners when in 2006 he blocked his Minister of Finance, Esther Nenadi Usman’s attempt to pay the arrears of pensioners with Federal Government bonds.  President Obasanjo was particularly unhappy with that arrangement when he asked his minister the crucial question ‘A 70 or  80 years old man, if you give him  pension arrears in bonds, and you say it is cashable in so, so number of years, how many more years did you think he has to live?’ (The Guardian, August 8, 2006).  The pension arrears were put at N75 billion.  President Obasanjo ordered the government, through its Minister of Finance, to release N75 billion immediately to clear all the arrears of pensions.  During the Yar’Adua administration, prompt attention was paid to payment of pensioners, known all over the world as senior citizens”.

    Unfortunately, the regime of President Jonathan was different.  Even when it appeared that the president wanted to act, his Minister of Finance, Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, was always on hand to frustrate his effort.  For instance, when President Jonathan signed an approval for the payment of 53% increase from July 1, 2009 to 2014 as calculated by his technical committee, Okonjo-Iweala was alleged to have controversially insisted on cutting the 53% to 33% even after the Wages Commission and the NLC were said to have prepared 53% payment arrears for inclusion in the budget (see The Nation, January 24, 2014, p.21 and “Okonjo-Iweala and pensioners”(The Nation, June 29,  2014, p.18). We later heard that, after the payment of 33%, the military were gunning for the balance of 20% which we are made to understand the administration of President Buhari has promised to pay now. This kind gesture by the present administration which promised change from the pitfalls of President Jonathan’s administration must not be rubbished by a tacit return to the insensitive era of Okonjo-Iweala as Jonathan’s finance minister. Therefore, the acting President, Yemi Osinbajo, should take a cue from former President Obasanjo by ordering the present finance minister, Mrs. Adeosun, to reverse herself in line with the philosophy and good intention of Buhari/Osinbajo administration. Please note that pensioners have been cheated on two grounds. First, the value of their unpaid arrears since 2009 has diminished at the current rate of naira to the dollar.  Second, the interests on the arrears owed to these pensioners have been stolen by officers who usually fix the money for personal gains.  They should be paid their arrears with interest since 2009 or 2010.

    Since the finance minister cannot pretend that she is unaware that many pensioners die on a daily basis in this country owing to old age and government’s culture of delayed or non-payment of pensions and arrears of poor pensioners until death knocks at their doors, she must see to it that no more pensioners die as a result of delays or non-payment of pensions and arrears from now on, otherwise non-pensioners and even sympathetic observers from outside Nigeria may well say of those waiting in vain for their pensions in Nigeria: Ye Nigerian pensioners who are about to die, we salute but pity you.

    In order to wash its hands off the sinful and almost unpardonable act of wilful negligence, government must endeavour to pay arrears of pensioners, including the outstanding 20%, by the end of July or August latest,  and not deliberately wait for more deaths to be counted against them thereafter. That is how bad things are in our beloved country, Nigeria, where nothing works except hypocrisy, selfishness, greed and corruption of various descriptions.  Need we say more?

     

    • Prof Makinde, FNAL, JP is a retired Professor of Philosophy, Obafemi Awolowo University

    Ile-Ife.

  • Pensioners hail govt for releasing N740b to pay arrears

    Pensioners hail govt for releasing N740b to pay arrears

    The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) has lauded the Federal Government for releasing N740 billion for the settlement of outstanding pension liabilities and promotion arrears of federal workers.

    It asked its members nationwide to take advantage of the voter registration exercise and equip themselves with voter cards to enable them vote out politicians, who have displayed anti-worker and anti-pensioners tendencies during the 2019 elections.

    In a statement issued in Abuja by its General Secretary, Actor Zal, the union said the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD)) has assured that all pension arrears will soon be liquidated by the government and appeal to its members nationwide to exercise a little more patience.

    The union said the government will facilitate the payment of entitlements in due course through the treasury bills and bonds.

    According to the statement, payments of the arrears of 33 per cent pension increase (18 months for civilian pensioners and 39 months for police pensioners) as well as the arrears of gratuities that were owed pensioners since 2001 will also be liquidated.

    The statement added: “PTAD will equally commence the verification of pensioners from the Southwest and Northcentral zones within a few weeks from now. The dates and venues of the exercise will be announced as soon as funds are released through print and electronic media by PTAD accordingly.”

    It said the union was appreciative “of the efforts of the Chairman, House Committee on Pension, Hon. Hassan Shekarau and the Executive Secretary of PTAD, Mrs. Sharon Ikeazor, for their frantic and unshakeable efforts in this regard. We call on them and all other well-meaning Nigerians to join hands with the Federal Government to ensure that this payment is done without further delay so as to assuage the pains and sufferings of our senior citizens, who had worked selflessly for a greater and indivisible Nigeria.

    “May we equally use this medium to direct all our members from the states, LGAs and parastatals across the country to take advantage of the on-going voters registration exercise towards equipping themselves with voter cards in readiness for the 2019 general election so as to cast their votes for those who have been treating them fairly and against those who have been treating them with disdain and levity.”

  • Osun retirees protest non-payment of arrears

    Osun retirees protest non-payment of arrears

    •Another group lauds govt’s transparency

    Some retirees in Osun State yesterday took to the streets of Osogbo, the state capital, to protest the non- payment of their pension arrears.

    Their protests came on the heels of an announcement by the government on the receipt of N6.3 billion Paris Club Refund. The protesters operated under the aegis of the 2011/2012 Pensioners Forum.

    The pensioners, who staged a peaceful protest to the state secretariat on Gbongan Road, accused Governor Rauf Aregbesola of deliberate refusal to pay their entitlements.

    The protesters denied many civil servants and other top officials access to government offices yesterday.

    Chanting anti-government songs and displaying placards with various inscriptions, the pensioner said they would monitor the release of the second tranche of the Paris Club refund and ensure payment of their pension arrears.

    The disrupted movement from the Owode end of Gbongan-Ibadan Expressway.

    Speaking through the chairman of the 2011/2012 Forum of Pensioners in Osun State, Omoniyi Ilesanmi said: “We are the people who worked diligently after the creation of Osun State. Aregbesola should use the N6.3 billion Paris loan refund he just got to pay us our pension’s allowance, otherwise he would find this state ungovernable.”

    Also yesterday, members of the the Triangular Group of Pensioners in the Osun said they have been vindicated with the release of the second tranche of the Paris Club loans refunds on Monday to the states.

    The group’s chairman, Prince Rotimi Adelugba, in a statement, commended the Osun State government for promptly informing the public on the receipt of the refund.

    According to him, his group’s earlier stance was that “the protest by some few pensioners in the state on the payment of pension arrears with the Paris Club refund was another political stunt meant to portray the administration of Governor Rauf Aregbesola as bad in the estimation of the public as the state approached the Osun West Senatorial District Election on July 8 had been justified with the latest development.”

    According to the group, dialogue remained the best way to push pensioners’ demand and not through fabricated lies and protests which it alleged, “are being sponsored by the opposition.”

    Adelugba stressed that group’s defence of the government on the receipt of Paris Club Fund as at then, was based on the information at the its disposal, insisting that the refund, as at then, had not yet been received.

    He said: “We have stated earlier before now that it is inhuman, disheartening and uncivilised to note that despite all efforts put in place and the assurance capable of giving hope to retirees, they embarked on character assassination and lies.

    “Is it not now clear to the whole world that the claims by the Omoniyi Ilesanmi-led pensioners that the second tranche of the Paris Club fund have been diverted as at then was untrue, misleading and uncalled for when the fund has not been released.ý

    “We wondered where Mr. Ilesanmi and his people got their own information from if it was not that they were motivated by the opposition, not minding the consequences. Is it not now so clear that there was nothing like the release of the second tranche two months ago as they claimed?

    “The governor had said it several times that the salary and pension’s arrears would be paid as soon as fund is available. The government just demonstrated its sincerity to the welfare of the people when it announced that it has gotten the second tranche of the refund and we commend Aregbesola for this sincerity.”

  • PTAD, please pay my pension arrears

    SIR: I wrote a passionate appeal letter sometime in February concerning non-payment of arrears of my pension since September, 2009 (now close to eight years).

    Officials of Pension Transition Arrangement Department (PTAD) acknowledged the letter and asked me to re-submit all necessary relevant documents to their office which I did in the month of February, and which they also acknowledged. But up till now, I am yet to be paid my pension arrears.

    This situation has meted further untold hardship to me and my family as I have not been able to meet most of my financial obligations and commitment as a family man. My children are out of school because of non-payment of school fees. In fact I am now seriously in debt.

    I am therefore using this medium again to further passionately plead and appeal to you to use your good offices to please urgently and kindly come to me and my family’s aid and assistance

    My name is Hassan Samusi Olusegun. I retired voluntarily as a Principal Executive Officer (PEO) (Accounts) grade level 12 step 9 from the Federal Ministry of Education, Abuja on December 1, 2003. My monthly pension is supposed to commence in September 2009 due to my age at the time of voluntary retirement.

    My E-PENSION verification number is EPENHOS127375 and my file number at the Federal Ministry of Education is P62563.

    My Bank is First Bank Plc and my account number is 3009873620. My Bank verification number is 22163043179.

    My telephone numbers are: 08036400740, 07084399033

     

    • Hassan Samusi Olusegun,

    Lagos.

  • Reps quiz Adeosun, Udoma over N302.4b pension arrears

    Reps quiz Adeosun, Udoma over N302.4b pension arrears

    The House of Representatives yesterday grilled the Minister of Finance, Mrs Kemi Adeosun and her Budget and National Planning counterpart, Udoma Udo Udoma, over the N302.4 billion pension arrears.

    The lawmakers demanded to know what the executive was doing to offset the outstanding pension liabilities both under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS) and the Contributory Pensions Scheme (CPS).

    While summoning the ministers last week, House Speaker, Yakubu Dogara  said the ministers and heads of relevant agencies must appear before the Green Chamber to find a realistic solution to the intractable problem of outstanding pension payments.

    But both Adeosun and Udoma while making presentation pleaded for more time to pay the outstanding saying the Federal Government only on Wednesday paid N54 billion out of the outstanding pension arrears.

    The challenge, according to the ministers was due to the inability to reconcile the figures between the relevant pension administration agencies.

    According to Mrs Adeosun, the situation had been on before the current administration and the high pension debt had been “consistent under appropriation for years that lead to the current problem”.

    She told the lawmakers that just a day before her appearance, the Federal Government had released  funds for the payment of pension arrears.

    On his part,  Udoma  said the president has set up a committee headed by the Ministry of Finance to resolve the intractable pension problem which he said was inherited.

    He said the Federal Government was up to date in terms of pensions payments, adding that an efficient and prompt payment of pension and gratuity would soon come into force as soon as the inter-ministerial committee comes up with harmonised data base.

    “Pension is something that the president is really concerned about. He thanks the House for highlighting the issue. He has directed that this is an issue that must be resolved.

    “The numbers will be reconciled and if there is any impact on the 2017 budget, we will approach the National Assembly,” he said.

    The minister also hinged some of the challenges on limited resources, saying government views salaries and pensions  payment with great importance which is the reason for the items being number one priority. “Half of the total of projected revenue in the 2017 budget is to be used to pay wages and pension,” he said.

    But members were not happy with the explanations of the minister. Members such as Betty Apiafi, Zakari Mohammed , Barde Yakubu, Obinna Chidoka, Aliyu Madaki and a host of others, expressed displeasure over this.

    Minority Leader, Leo Ogor said government was a continuum and no excuse would suffice. He said since the ministers have said the president has set up a committee to liaise with relevant pension agencies, “ we should be looking at the time frame with which they will submit their report.”

  • Cleric urges Bayelsa to clear salary arrears

    A clergyman, Rev. T. Y. Emmanuel, has urged the Bayelsa State government to clear six-month salary arrears owed workers, to avert God’s wrath.

    News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports the cleric gave the advice in Yenagoa during a church service to commemorate first anniversary of Governor Seriake Dickson’s second tenure in office.

    Emmanuel, who was the guest preacher, advised the governor to seek solace in God.

    “God is angry when you don’t pay workers. God has asked me to tell you that hired servants should be properly paid,” he said.

    The clergyman said the assignment given by God to public leadership was for a purpose and the purpose was to serve God and benefit mankind.

    Emmanuel, who titled his sermon: “Make God Your Refuge,” quoted from books in the Bible including Psalm 127, James 5:1-5 and Deuteronomy 24:14-15 to illustrate his points.

    He said it was important for the government to appreciate the essence of God’s purpose for instituting government authority for mankind.

    “When God gives a man leadership, there is an assignment he wants to fulfil. Every government is of God, though it may have human mistakes.

    “The cries of the hired servants have come to God and He has heard them. Misapplication of riches is what poses danger, we need wisdom from God to function,” the cleric added.

    Governor Dickson said his re-election for second tenure was tough, but he emerged victorious because God’s hand was upon him.

    He said his government was making efforts within the limited resources available and would take steps to enhance the welfare of its workforce.

    Dickson said the government had achieved so much in the first one year of his second term, in infrastructure, education, health and agriculture, among others.

    “Our dreams are so high that you can’t even use a ladder to see. In the midst of recession, we are building the best schools, roads and hospitals,” he said.

  • PTAD, please pay my pension arrears

    SIR: I retired voluntarily as a Principal Executive Officer [Accounts] Grade Level 12 Step 9 in the Federal Ministry of Education, Abuja on December 1, 2003. My monthly pension is supposed to commence in September 2009 due to my age at the time of retirement. I took part in the E-PENSION VERIFICATION EXERCISE in September, 2010 at the Federal Civil Service Club, Awolowo Road, Ikoyi, Lagos. But up till now, I am yet to collect any money as my monthly pension because I am yet to be enrolled into monthly pension payroll.

    This situation has meted untold hardship to me and my family as I have not been able to meet most of my financial obligations and commitments. Apart from this, all the feasibility reports concerning some viable business proposals I have written are all lying idle because of lack of funds.

    My name is HASSAN SAMUSI OLUSEGUN. My E-pension number is EPENHOS127375 and my file number at the Federal Ministry of Education is P62563. My phone numbers are: 08036400740, 07084399033

     

    • Hassan Samusi Olusegun,

    Lagos.

  • Bayelsa suspends workers’ promotion increment, arrears

    The Bayelsa State government has suspended promotions and annual increment of civil servants in ministries, department and agencies (MDAs).

    In a circular to the MDAs by Acting Head of Service (HOS), Rev. Thomas Zidafamor, the government said the directive took effect from 2015.

    The document, dated February 2, was addressed to the secretary to the state government (SSG), commissioners, permanent secretaries, chief registrar and clerk of the House of Assembly.

    In the circular, which The Nation sighted the government also directed accounting officers to expunge such promotions and increment arrears from salary vouchers, with effect from January.

    The government said the action was to enable it meet up with the monthly wage bill in view of dwindling financial resources.

    The circular reads: “All permanent secretaries are expected to convey this directive to the corporations and agencies of government under their ministries and ensure that this directive is effectively implemented as you will be held responsible for any deviation from the content of this circular.”

    The government directed permanent secretaries or accounting officers and the director of Finance and Supply to sign the nominal rolls, payment vouchers and attendance summary before submission.

    It said: “Vouchers and related documents must be submitted not later than 10th day of the month while the monthly MDAs’ salary summary should be signed by the permanent secretary or head of department or agency not later than the 12 day of the month.”

  • Ortom promises to clear salary arrears

    Ortom promises to clear salary arrears

    Benue State Governor Samuel Ortom has promised to clear outstanding salaries of state and local government workers in 2017.

    This was contained in the Governor’s New Year message signed by his Chief Press Secretary, Terver Akase.

    State workers are owed four months while local government and primary school teachers are owed eight months. Pensioners are owed 13 months.

    Ortom, who felicitated with the people as they stepped into the New Year, said his administration had concluded plans to clear salary arrears in 2017.

    “The wage bill of workers in particular will continue to be a priority as our administration plans to clear outstanding salaries at the state and local government levels,” he said.

    The governor hoped that 2017 would be a better year which would offer greater opportunities to the people in different sectors of the economy

  • Pensioners to get arrears in 2017

    Pensioners to get arrears in 2017

    The Executive Secretary, Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), Mrs. Sharon Ikeazor, has said New Nigerian and Nigeria Railway pensioners would be paid their pension arrears in the first quarter of 2017.

    Speaking with reporters, Ikeazor said the issue relating to the New Nigerian pensioners has been resolved and the pensioners would be included in the pension scheme early next year.

    She said she held meeting with the management of New Nigerian Newspaper where she informed them about the new development regarding the issue.

    Ikeazor, who was in Jalingo, the Taraba State capital, to monitor the ongoing verification of federal pensioners, said she was impressed with the conduct of the exercise, adding that it was aimed at addressing difficulties faced by pensioners nationwide. She also said special arrangement would be made in order to conduct the verification exercise for federal pensioners in Yobe and Borno states because of the insecurity problem.