The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Complaints

  • Pension complaints and solutions

    Mrs Awire: One of my children and I are the next-of-kin (NOK) to my husband, who passed on in September 16, 2003. He retired in April 1999, after working at the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS). When he was in service, his salary with his colleagues were not paid through the bank. I went to the Immigration office to collect his pay slip and Letter of Administration from the High Court.

    I complained to The Nation in May 2016. The matter was forwarded to the Directorate and I was asked to come to Abuja with my child, who is also a beneficiary. I travelled from Ilorin, where we are based, to Abuja in July 2016 and my documents were verified by your officials. I was certified okay and told to expect payment in three months, which was October 2016. As at today, one year and four  months, which the Directorate promised to pay me, I am yet to hear from PTAD. Please, The Nation, kindly look into my case to put an end to the suffering my children and I  are going through. Thanks

    PTAD: Dear Mrs Awire, please be informed that the Death benefit was paid into the NOKs joint Fidelity Bank Account in October 2016. Kindly confirm payment from your bank. If payment has not been received, please email the NOK’s signed and stamped original bank statement on the bank letter head, covering from October 2016 till date to complaints @ptad.gov.ng, or access our pensioner’s complaint submission portal at www.ptad.gov.ng . You can also visit any of our zonal offices where complaints can be processed. For more information call us toll free on 080-2255-7823.

    DIOKA: Dear Omobola, my old mother, Elizabeth, who retired as a primary school teacher in 1984 (Imo State), is paid a monthly pension of less than N3000. Can you believe it? What can N3000 purchase in today’s Nigeria? The pension is not even regular. It sometimes comes only when the Paris Club Fund is paid to states. Please can you press on the government to do a comprehensive review of the pension law, especially to make state governments set up pension commissions in their states? Thank you. Chukwuma Dioka, Imo State.

    PTAD: Dear Mr. Dioka, Please be informed that your mother is NOT a PTAD Pensioner as primary school teachers are not under PTAD. She should kindly meet her state pension office to resolve her complaint. For more information log on to www.ptad.gov.ng

    ADEGOKE: Dear Omobola, my name is Adegoke. I retired from Customs in 2007. I want to know when pension issue of 20.37 per cent being balance of 53.37 per cent of 2010 pension increase arrears from July 2010 to date will be addressed and cleared. Arrears of 33 per cent out of the 53.37 per cent pension increase of July 2010 has been defrayed by the PTAD in 2016, leaving the balance of 20.37 per cent arrears from July 2010 to date unpaid. What is responsible for the non-payment? Could it be as a result of budgetary constraints? What has scaled down to pensioners disadvantage by the 2010 pension increase from 53.37 per cent to 33 per cent? Has arrangement reached advance stage towards the payment of the 20.37 per cent arrears and when will it be paid? Please PTAD pay pensioners this arrears of 20.37 per cent from July 2010 to date to put smile on our faces, or explain lucidly the true and proper position of this matter to us. Thanks.

    PTAD: In 2014, the Federal Government approved an increment in pensions by 33 per cent pension payment increase, effective July 2010, and PTAD has paid Customs increment in full. For more information log on to www.ptad.gov.ng

    SYLVANUS: Good day Omobola, let me refresh your memory on the two cases in which you promised to intervene. I served Lagos State from 1974 to 1983, when I transferred to Anambra, my home state. I held the post of Assistant Director. When I finally retired from University service in 2001, Lagos State was asked to provide my pension benefits based on apportionment. But there was no response up till April 2013, when I was paid about N1 million as gratuity and pension arrears. Now I am being owed 48 months pension by TEPO, Ikeja.

    Under Pension Act 1979, Federal Government took responsibility for pension of retirees in Ondo State, where I entered teaching in missionary schools from 1960 to 1976. On retirement, based on apportionment, a copy of my computed pension benefits was sent to PTAD, but no response up till now. At both states verification centres, no attention was given to me. Please Omobola, help an old man. God bless you. Sylvanus.

    PTAD: Dear Mr. Udeh, more information is needed to resolve your complaint. Can you confirm if you have completed a PTAD verification exercise? If yes, kindly provide us with your full name & Bank account details. If not, also provide us with your full name. In addition to the following documents; letter of first appointment, letter of last promotion; letter of retirement; signed and stamped original bank statement on the bank letter head , covering Jan 2001 till date are required. Kindly email the above documents to complaints@ptad.gov.ng or access our pensioner’s complaint submission portal at www.ptad.gov.ng. You can also visit any of our zonal offices where complaints can be processed. For more information call us toll free on 080-2255-7823.

    BABATUNDE: My name is Babatunde, I retired from NIPOST in July 23, 2005. My contribution in the Contributory Scheme was up to N46,338.92 of which I have applied for, up till now, I am yet to be paid. My pay slips photocopies were forwarded to PTAD in Abuja.

    PTAD: Kindly be informed that the PTAD does not manage pensioners under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS). Please forward the following documents to determine if in fact, you are a PTAD pensioner; letter of first appointment, letter of last promotion and letter of retirement. Kindly email the above documents to complaints@ptad.gov.ng or access our pensioner’s complaint submission portal at www.ptad.gov.ng you can also visit any of our zonal offices where complaints can be processed for more information call us toll free on 080-2255-7823.

    OSAM: Dear  Omobola, my father died on July 10, 2005. He served last at Police Mobile Force 26, Uyo, as an  inspector. His name is Okimba. I did all that was required of me for his gratuity to be paid in 2006, but te efforts proved abortive. Later in March 2015, I underwent the second police pension verification exercise and did image capturing at PTAD Maitama Abuja, where all necessary documents were successfully submitted as required by screening committee, as the next of kin. But up till date no payment. Please help me out of this distress.

    PTAD: Dear Mr. Osam, kindly note that your late father joined the Nigeria Police Force on 1st March, 1977, but died on 10th July, 2005. In line with the Pension Reform Act of 2004 as amended, the late Inspector Okimba falls under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) managed by the National Pension Commission (PenCom). You are, therefore, advised to approach the late Inspector Okimba’s Pension Fund Administrators and PenCom to claim the accrued pension benefits of late Inspector Okimba.

  •  Pension complaints and solutions

    EBONG: Dear Madam1, your column in The Nation of every Wednesday is really assisting pensioners.

    My name is Ebong. I attended a verification in Uyo Akwa Ibom State on February 7, 2017. My complaints are: the non-harmonisation and short-payment of my pensions.  I submitted all the required documents for scanning. Please  help me so that my arrears can be paid to enable me cope in this recession. My pension is not paid up to date. Thank you.

    PTAD: Your monthly pension has been harmonised and we recently paid six months of 33 per cent  arrears; the balance of 12 months will be paid subject to availability of funds.

    ANNONYMOUS: I am a retired 63-year-old military pensioner. I am sending this text in respect of Akinsoto’s comment in The Nation of Friday, June 2, 2017 (page 46) with the title: Pension complaints and solution.

    Akinsoto, also a NIPOST pensioner, emphasised that our military and para-military colleagues were paid their 33 per cent increment arrears at once not in dribs and drabs like that of NIPOST workers.

    I want Akinsoto to know that it is not true that Military Pensions Board paid our 33 per cent at once. Of the 53 per cent that we are being owed, 33 per cent arrears was paid to us in two quarterly payments as at 2015.

    The payment, according to the government, is expected to be completed this year. For God’s sake, a person who is expecting to be paid N276,000 at once is being paid twice quarterly. Can the money execute a reasonable project? What kind of country are we in? I have never seen where arrears are paid quarterly. We kept sending text messages to the Military Pension Board asking questions but yet no response. We served our country  faithfully. At the moment, we do not have the strength to till the soil. We are getting frustrated, but we believe that God will intervene in our case and all our entitlements will be paid at once.

    PTAD:The pensioner is a Military pensioner and not a pensioner eligible under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS). With regards to the 33 per cent pension arrears, the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate recently paid an instalment owed to some of its pensioners. The categories affected are Police, Civil Service and Parastatal Pensioners. All pensioners under the Customs, Immigration and Prisons Pensions Department had already been paid the 33 per cent arrears in full since September 2016. The latest payment was made from the Service Wide Vote released two weeks ago by the Federal Ministry of Finance (FMF). PTAD assures that all outstanding arrears of the 33 per cent increment will be settled as soon as additional releases are made.

    MAYALEEKE: My name is Mayaleeke. My friend, Folajuwon, and I have the same problem. My federal pension under the old scheme has been stopped since June 2010. I received my last pension under the old scheme from the Federal Government in May 2010. They paid me N8,748,90 monthly without any increment of the past years. All effort so far has failed. Kindly help.

    PTAD: Mr. Folajuwon and Mr. Mayaleeke should forward their verification print-out and bank-statements from Januray 2010 to Date to enable us ascertain their claim.

    ADACHI: I am Solomon Adachi. My dad died in 2007 while with the Nigerian Police Force. I was verified since 2014 but up till now, I have not been paid.

    PTAD: Mr. Adachi should please visit our Head Office for the Next-of-Kin interview.

    MRS OLUYEMISI: My name is Mrs Oluyemisi, from Osun State. I retired in July 2015. I am yet to be paid my benefits. My question is: with two years’salary arrears, is it going to be deducted from the lump sum to be giving to us by our PFA.

    PENCOM: Good day, Ma’am. Please give us more details to enable us to assist you. May we ask: What kind of arrears do you mean? Promotion salary arrears or arrears accumulated due to unpaid salaries? Also provide us with details of your place of employment, PIN and PFA. Thank you.

    A NNONYMOUS: I have double PIN number. What can I do?

    PENCOM: Good day, Madam, Please write to the National Pension Commission, Plot 174 Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja.  Make sure you attach evidence of your registration with both the Pension Fund Administrators. Thank you.

    ANNONYMOUS: Please we eed help. Some of us retired from the federal civil service between 2013 and 2017. We have not received any pension or gratuity since then. Some of us have died of frustration, while others are sick. We don’t have proper food to eat and we cannot send our children to school and meet other basic needs of life. Thanks. I want to remain anonymous.

    PENCOM: Sir, provide us with your PIN, place of employment, dates of employment and retirement to enable us to ascertain the status of your benefits. Thank you.

     

  • Let your complaints be devoid of malice, says Lagos CJ

    The Chief Judge of Lagos State, Justice  Opeyemi Oke has urged litigants and lawyers making complaints against judicial officers to ensure that they are substantiated and devoid of malice.

    Justice Oke stated this when a non-govermental organisation (NGO),  Fight Against Corruption in the Judiciary (FIACIJ) donated flyers to the Lagos State Judiciary in support of her anti-corruption crusade.

    The flyer has on one side the commitment, vision, and mission statements and core values of the Lagos State Judiciary while the flip side listed some of the acts that constitute corruption in the judiciary and where to file complaints.

    Receiving the initial 20,000 copies of the anti-corruption flyers from the National Convener of FIACIJ, Bayo Akinlade, Justice Oke observed that  the materials will not only help judiciary staff on their job but also serve as an attitudinal guide to them in their personal lives.

    She said events since the war against corruption commenced have encouraged her to carry on.

    “Since my assumption of office and the wide publication of our commitment, vision, mission statement and core values, I have constantly seen lawyers forward petitions to my office, putting on an armour of boldness to follow through with same without fear or favour. This is greatly encouraging and laudable”, she said.

    The Chie Judge charged litigants and advocates not to rubbish the campaign but “to only make complaints when they have claims that are substantiated and devoid of malice.”

    She pointed out that the war launched to fight corruption in the judiciary will not be easy, but I can assure you that it will be worth every pint of energy put into it.”

    She charged judiciary officers to continually discharge their duties with utmost sense of honesty in strict adherence with the core values.

    Justice Oke regretted that the image of the judiciary has been tarnished by the notion of corruption bug and admitted that the acts of misconduct of a few may have implanted a dent on the system, thereby creating the impression that all judicial officers are corrupt.

    “I however must say that the times have changed and the happy days of the few unscrupulous elements , who continue to soil our image are over.

    “I am determined to redeem the abused image of the Lagos State Judiciary. Any judicial officer found culpable will not be spared and shall be shown the exit swiftly”, she said.

    Earlier his remarks, while handing over the ant-corruption flyers to the Chief Judge, Akinlade remarked the basic principle of justice is to help the down trodden.

    He said it was unfortunate that the country has been bogged down with corruption pointing out that if corruption is allowed to persist in the judiciary, “there is no hope for our children”.

    He said the burden is now on lawyer and I know that if we work together with the judiciary, we can change the system, It is our responsibility to ensure the country is built on trust and principles that will make us live in harmony.”

    Chairman, Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Ikorodu Branch, Levi Adikwone remark that the bar has a duty to eliminate corruption in the judiciary.

    He said the initiative by the Chief Judge has embolden every lawyer to the cause of the fight against corruption and gave assurance of their support to ensure its success.

  • Pension complaints and solutions

    DIOKA: Dear Omobola, my old mother, Elizabeth, who retired as a primary school teacher in 1984 (Imo State), is paid a monthly pension of less than N3000.  Can you believe it? What can N3000 purchase in today Nigeria? The pension is not even regular. It sometimes comes only when the Paris Club Fund is paid to states. Please help press on the government  to do a comprehensive review of the pension law, especially to make state governments set up pension commissions in their states. Thank you. Chukwuma Dioka, Imo State.

    THE NATION: The newspaper will intervene. Do await response from PTAD. Watch out for the newspaper next week for your response and subsequently, every Wednesday as we update you with pension news.

     Okimba: Dear Omobola, my father died on July 10, 2005. He served last at the Police Mobile Force 26 Uyo as a police inspector. His name is Okimba. I did all that was required  for his gratuity to be paid in 2006, but response proved abortive. Later in March 2015, I attended the second police pension verification exercise and did image capturing at PTAD Maitama, Abuja, where all necessary documents were successfully submitted as required by screening committee as the next of kin. But up till date no payment. Please help me out of this distress situation.

    THE NATION: The newspaper will intervene. Do await response from PTAD. Watch out for the newspaper next week for your response and subsequently every Wednesday as we update you with pension news.

    OWARI: I am an aggrieved man. I retired from paramilitary custom marine department. I was employed in November 27, 1974 and retired in January 1, 2004. I am sending this short message to remind the PTAD of the non-payment of my pension. My complain is that since January 1, 2004 till date my pension subsistence allowance from the sinking fund, both arrears and regular monthly payment, has not yet being paid to me. I have been verified and captured on April 14,  2014 at (CIPO) Gwagwalada Abuja and was issued my capturing number. Since then nothing has been done till date. Besides, I was also verified and captured at pension transitional arrangement directorate, where I was also issued with pensioner’s verification acknowledgement form of personal data pensioner number. Please help me. I need my entitlements.

    THE NATION: The newspaper will intervene. Do await response from PTAD. Watch out for the newspaper next week for your response and subsequently every Wednesday as we update you with pension news.

    RUMIN: My complaints is non-payment of my late father’s gratuity from police pension. I am the son and next of kin to the late Inspector Akpagher, who died in June 2005. Since then I have not received a kobo as his pension benefits. I followed the due process by attending all verification exercises where I provided all documents and information necessary, but I am yet to receive my late father’s gratuity. I am, therefore, appealing  to the authority concerned to consider my plight and assist me to receive my late father’s gratuity.

    THE NATION: The newspaper will intervene. Do await response from PTAD. Watch out for the newspaper next week for your response and subsequently every Wednesday as we update you with pension news.

    ADEGOKE: Dear omobola, my name is Adegoke. I retired from Customs in 2007. I want to know when pension issue of 20.37 per cent being the balance of 53.37 per cent of 2010 pension increase arrears from July 2010 to date will be addressed and cleared. Arrears of 33 per cent out of the 53.37 per cent pension increase of July 2010 has been defrayed by the PTAD in year 2016. Leaving the balance of 20.37 per cent arrears from July 2010 to date unpaid. What is  responsible for the non-payment? Could it be as a result of budgetary constraints? What has scaled down to pensioners disadvantage the year 2010 pension increase from 53.37 per cent to 33 per cent? Has the arrangement reached advance stage towards payment of the 20.37 per cent arrears and when will it be paid? Please PTAD pay pensioners this arrears of 20.37 per cent from July 2010 to date to put smile on our faces or explain lucidly the true and proper position of  this matter to us. Thanks.

    THE NATION: The newspaper will intervene. Do await response from PTAD. Watch out for the newspaper next week for your response and subsequently every Wednesday as we update you with pension news.

    IGBO: I retired in 1994. My Federal pension as at October 2010 was N13, 866. It was cut down to N4,164.00 after a lump sum payment of N309,000 in December 2012. My pension complaint appeared in The Nation newspaper. Wednesday 13/12/2017. I have made the documents you requested available to the commission more than 10 times. I have made two personal representations at the commission. I was not told what was wrong only to wait since 2010. I was present at the verification exercise here in Owerri, Imo State in 2015, yet I continue to cry as the delay continues and I continue to suffer. The documents are all there in your office.

    THE NATION: The newspaper will intervene. Do await response from PTAD. Watch out for the newspaper next week for your response and subsequently every Wednesday as we update you with pension news.

    BABATUNDE: My name is Babatunde, I retired from NIPOST in July 23, 2005. My contribution in the Contributory Scheme is up to N46,338.92  of which I have applied for, up till now, I am yet to be paid. My pay slips photocopies were forwarded to the PTAD in Abuja.

    THE NATION: The newspaper will intervene. Do await response from PTAD. Watch out for the newspaper next week for your response and subsequently every Wednesday as we update you with pension news.

  • Pension complaints and solutions

    ANONYMOUS: I have double pin number. What can I do?

    PENCOM: Good day Sir. Please write a formal complaint, addressing it to the National Pension Commission, Plot 174 Adetokunbo Ademola Crescent, Wuse II, Abuja. Please ensure to attach evidence of registration with both Pension Fund Administrators. Thank you.

    ANONYMOUS: Good day, please we need help. We retired from the Federal Government civil service. Some of us retired between 2013 and 2017 respectively. We have not received any pension or gratuity. Some of us have died of frustration, while some are sick. We don’t have proper food to eat and we cannot send our children to school and meet other basic needs of life. Thanks. I want to remain Anonymous.

    PENCOM: Sir, please provide us with your PIN, place of employment, dates of employment and retirement; for us to ascertain the status of your benefits. Thank you.

    SAHEED: Dear Sir/Ma, my name is Saheed. I have part of my pension with NSITF/NPF. In my Sterling bank account, I have N87,454.82. Please note that not a single kobo has been paid from their office on Ikorodu road to Elephant House, Alausa, where I was asked to open an account with Zenith with all documents, but I was still not paid. I travelled to Abuja office labour house still no show. Please kindly help me since this fund had been hanging somewhere since 2004. By now, under normal circumstances, the money would have generated returns for 13 years. Thank you for taking time to read my story.

    PENCOM: Good day Sir. Can you please give us clearer details of your issue? Thank you.

    EBONG: Dear Sir, your column in The Nation of Wednesday July 5th is earnestly assisting pensioners. My name is Ebong. I attended a verification exercise in Uyo Akwa Ibom State on February 7, 2017. My complaint is non harmonisation and short payment of my pensions.  I submitted all the required documents for scanning. Please kindly help me so that my arrears can be paid to enable me cope in this recession period. My pension is paid up to date. Thank you.

    PTAD OKONDO: Your monthly pension has been harmonised and we recently paid six months of 33 per cent  arrears, the balance of 12 months will be paid subject to availability of funds.

    ANONYMOUS: I am a 63-year-old military pensioner. I am sending this text in respect of Akinsoto comment in The Nation Friday June 2, 2017 page 46 with the tittle pension complaints and solution. Akinsoto also a NIPOST pensioner where he emphasised that our military and para military colleagues were paid there 33 per cent increment arrears at once not in dribs and drabs like that of NIPOST. I want Akinsoto to know that it is not true that military pension paid our 33 per cent at once. Out of the 53 per cent that we are being owed, 33 per cent arrears is paid to us in two quarterly payment as of 2015. The payment of that according to government is expected to finish this year.

    For God’s sake a person, who is expecting to be paid N276,000 at once, is being paid twice quarterly (in dribs and drabs). Can the money do a reasonable project? What kind of country are we in? I have never seen where arrears are being paid quarterly.  We kept sending text messages to the military pension board, asking questions but no response. We serve our country with truthfulness and faithfulness, but we do not have the strength to till the soil. We are getting frustrated, but we believe that God  will intervene in our case and all our entitlements will be paid at once.

    PTAD OKONDO: The pensioner is a military pensioner and not a pensioner eligible under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS). With regards to the 33 per cent pension arrears, the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate recently paid an instalment owed to some of its pensioners. The categories affected are Police, Civil Service and Parastatal Pensioners. All pensioners under the Customs, Immigration and Prisons Department had already been paid the 33 per cent arrears in full since September 2016.

    The latest payment was made from the Service Wide Vote released two weeks ago by the Federal Ministry of Finance (FMF). PTAD assures that all outstanding arrears of the 33 per cent increment will be settled as soon as additional releases are made.

     

    MAYALEEKE: My Federal pension under the old scheme has been stopped since June 2010. I received my last pension under the old scheme from the Federal Government in May 2010. They paid me N8,748,90, per month without any increment of the past years. My name is Mayaleeke. My friend, Folajuwon has the same problem. All effort so far has failed. kindly help.

    PTAD OKONDO: Mr. Folajuwon and Mr. Mayaleeke should forward their verification print-out and bank-statements from Jan, 2010 to date to enable us ascertain their claim.

  • CPC counsels businesses to respond to complaints

    The Director General of the Consumer Protection Council (CPC), Babatunde Irukera, has insisted that businesses in the country must be responsive to consumer grievances and must institutionalise and prioritise complaint resolution policies and mechanisms, stressing that this is the hallmark of company and brand reputation.

    Irukera noted that the current regime was unsustainable as it is tantamount to government subsidising business, stating that the CPC should not substitute company customer care as a multi-company customer service desk.

    Specifically, he opined that businesses have factored the cost of complaint resolution into their profitability and as such should not outsource it to the government, while underscoring the important role of the CPC in ensuring resolution that is fair and equitable.

    The director general made the assertion at a more collaborative relationship with the Civil Society, Consumer Protection Associations (CPAs), Non-governmental Organisations (NGOs) and Community-Based Organisations (CBOs) at a round-table session organised by the Council in Abuja.

    He argued that “companies have both commercial and social contracts with consumers.

    On the motive behind the round table forum, Irukera asserted that the council seeks an effective partnership with the civil society for robust protection of consumers across our vast country.

    According to him, “any credible and people-oriented leadership will embrace civil society and as such for me, an engagement with those in civil society is paramount.”

    As part of the new engagement, the director general disclosed that the council was implementing a more stringent registration process for CSOs, NGOs, CBOs and CPAs, explaining that the additional scrutiny is to ensure the integrity and credibility of both the council and its partners.

    Irukera, while fielding questions from reporters after addressing the session, said “the most important thing to achieve from here is to first of all, let the civil society generally know that we believe that the shared burden of consumer protection is something that we must continue to emphasise and highlight and to also create a network where we are exchanging and ideas and direction.”

  • Pension complaints and solutions

    ANONYMOUS: Good day sir|ma. Please as a contract staff who retired with an existing pin from his PFA and currently on pension, can I register with another PFA as a contract staff? God bless PenCom and The Nation for this good work.

    PENCOM: The Pension Reform Act (PRA 2014) emphasises one Retirement Savings Account (RSA) per employee, which means that RSA holders should not register with any other PFA after the first registration.  The National Pension Commission (PenCom) has a first pin rule, which means that contributors with more than one PIN must notify the Commission in writing attaching evidence of multiple registrations with PFAs, so that the subsequent PINs can be flagged off.  An RSA holder carries his/her PIN to his/her new employment. The contributor does not have to change his PIN or register with another PFA.

    ANONYMOUS: Good dayam sir, I am  a staff of PPEB Delta State.  I started contributory pension from inception. I opted for Stanbic Ibtc Pension. However I was told I can’t choose my pen managers myself contrary to the law, that another PFA (name withhold) must manage all Delta workers.  I filled the forms, till date I have nothing to show for it.

    PENCOM: By virtue of the provision of the Pension Reform Act 2014, an employee enjoys the right to open and maintain an RSA in his name with a PFA of his choice. It is illegal for any employer or Labour/Union to impose a particular PFA on employees or members.  However, we will still need more information from you such as your PIN, name of PFA, name of your last employer in order to assist with your enquiry.

    GEOFREY: Good evening sir. I am Geofrey, an ex staff of Oceanic Bank, I opened my RSA is with premium pension, after my disengagement, I went to their office to get 50% of contribution. But among other requirements they asked for my salary pay slip which I cannot get because Oceanic Bank didn’t pay us with  pay slip when I was with them. Please help me as I am yet to get another job since 2010. Thanks.

    PENCOM: You cannot get 50% of your contribution. The PRA 2014 only makes provision for a person to withdraw not more than 25% of the total amount credited to his/her RSA provided his/her have been out of a job for four months and has not secured another employment.  With regards to your pay slip issue, please contact your PFA so that they can assist you with possible alternatives.

    BASAMBO: Good day. My name is Basambo, I have death benefit payment of my late father, Danjuma with  Legacy Pension. Please I need to know why the payment is not being made for two years, after finishing all the neccessary processes.

    PENCOM: Upon the death of an employee, the employer/Next of Kin (NoK) or representative of the deceased shall notify the PFA, who in turn shall inform the ommission with supporting documents. The employer would thereafter process the proceeds of the life insurance policy which shall be credited into the deceased’s RSA. The NoK shall liaise with the PFA and provide necessary documentation for processing of the deceased’s entitlements. The deceased’s consolidated benefits are thereafter paid in bulk to the Executors of his estate or to any person appointed by the Probate Registry as the Administrator of his estate to enable them apply the same in favour of his beneficiaries. However sir, we would require more information from you such as your late father’s PIN, Name of Last Employer, so that we can assist you further.

    MRS EKPE: Good day ma, please I need your help on my late husband’s pension. My problem is on the letter of administration. I have been processing it since December 2014.The lawyer helping me only collects money from me and put me on hold, he doesn’t even take my calls

    PENCOM:: Please madam, try and engage another lawyer to assist you.

  • Complaints and Solutions

    EBONG: Dear Sir, your column in The Nation newspaper of Wednesday, July 5 has   assisted pensioners. My name is Ebong. I  attended a verification exercise in Uyo Akwa Ibom State on February 7, 2017. My complaints are non harmonisation and short payment of my pensions.  I submitted all the required documents for scanning. Please kindly help me so that my arrears can be paid to enable me cope in this recession period. My pension is paid up to date. Thank you.

    THE NATION: The newspaper will intervene. Do await response from PTAD. Watch out for the newspaper next week for your response and subsequently every Wednesday as we update you with pension news.

    OLUYEMISI: My name is Mrs Oluyemisi from Osun State. I retired in July 2015 but I’m yet to receive my benefits. My question is will our two years salary arrears going to be deducted from the lump sum to be given to us by  our PFA.

    THE NATION: The newspaper will intervene. Do await response from PenCom. Watch out for the newspaper next week for your response and subsequently every Wednesday as we update you with pension news.

    ANONYMOUS: Sir I have double pin number. What do I do?

    THE NATION: The newspaper will intervene. Do await response from PenCom. Watch out for the newspaper next week for your response and subsequently every Wednesday as we update you with pension news.

    MAYALEEKE: Dear Omobola, My federal
    pension under the old scheme has been stopped since June 2010. The last of my pension from the Federal Government was in May 2010. About N8,748.90 per month was paid without any increment of the past years. All efforts to correct this so has failed. Kindly help.

    THE NATION: The newspaper will intervene. Do await response from PTAD. Watch out for the newspaper next week for your response and subsequently every Wednesday as we update you with pension news.

    ADACHI: My name is Adachi. My dad died since 2007 while with NPF and I was verified since 2014 but till now I have not been paid. What do I do?

    THE NATION: The newspaper will intervene. Do await response from PTAD. Watch out for the newspaper next week for your response and subsequently every Wednesday as we update you with pension news.

    ANONYMOUS: Please I am an ex NITEL staff. We are still waiting for a supposed verification but is not forthcoming. What is our position?

    THE NATION: The newspaper will intervene. Do await response from PTAD. Watch out for the newspaper next week for your response and subsequently every Wednesday as we update you with pension news.

    OKON: Please, I  am one of those who had missed the verification of retires at Calabar, Cross River State. I want you to inform me the date and location for North Central to enable me to get there as published in The Nation newspaper Wednesday June 21, 2017. Thanks.

    THE NATION: The newspaper will intervene. Do await response from PTAD. Watch out for the newspaper next week for your response and subsequently every Wednesday as we update you with pension news.

    ADELEKE: Sir I have two pen no with two PFAs. I retired since year 2014 and one of them has since paid me my lump sum. The other PFA only gave me the statement of my account with them which is less than N300,000 and told me they are not the one to pay me. Please kindly help me ask them. Who is to pay me? Thanks sir.

    THE NATION: The newspaper will intervene. Do await response from PenCom. Watch out for the newspaper next week for your response and subsequently every Wednesday as we update you with pension news.

  • Panel refuses to hear complaints by 72 convicted soldiers

    The presidential panel constituted to review compliance of the armed forces with human rights obligations and rules of engagement in the fight against insurgents has declined jurisdiction over the complaints by about 72 soldiers earlier convicted by military court martials.

    In a unanimous ruling over the weekend, the seven-man panel held that it lacked the requisite jurisdiction to review the trial of the soldiers, their conviction and the sentences passed by the court martials.

    The panel, led by Justice Biobele Georgewill (of the Court of Appeal), said since the soldiers, who include Brig.-Gen. E. A. Ransom-Kuti (N/8301) who was demoted to Colonel by the Army Council, have appealed the court marshals’ decisions at the Court of Appeal, and have also applied to the President for pardon or clemency, they should explore both options.

    The Justice Georgewill-led panel had, during its proceedings on September 11, directed lawyers to the soldiers (Femi Falana, SAN) and the Nigerian Army (Biola Oyebanji) to address it whether or not it possesses the jurisdiction to hear the five memoranda submitted by the soldiers.

    In its lead ruling delivered on September 13, the panel said it was an investigative panel constituted by the Federal Government with specific mandate, as contained in the terms of reference.

    It said it lacked the powers to “re-hear, re-consider, decide, overturn or quash trials, convictions and sentences of any or all the petitioners by the respective court marshals that tried, convicted and sentenced them.”

  • Benin DisCo resolves 50,572 customers’ complaints

    The Benin Electricity Distribution Company (BEDC) has, through its new payment channels, metering programme and  Customer Complaint Unit, resolved over 50,572 customer matters.

    Corporate customers on its network have also begun to enjoy better and quality power supply, the firm said.

    “We have deployed new payment channels, such as Point of Sales (PoS), web-based payment, bank payments, Automated Teller Machine (ATM) and scratch card payment. We have recorded successful metering of all 33kv outgoing feeders in the newly constructed Transmission Company of Nigeria (TCN) stations in Asaba, Oghara and Omotosho.

    “We have also achieved extensive metering of 216 numbers of 11kv feeders; carried out the successful deployment of 922 High Voltage Distribution System (HVDS) poles mounted meters in Etete business unit as a pilot scheme and developed a standard process flow for other business unit to follow,” the company stated.

    Other achievements recorded by the company, according to a statement made available to The Nation, are the engagement and training of 120 analytical graduates with specialties in Electrical/ Electronics,Mechanical and Computer Engineering, Computer Science and Accounting with Vigeo Power Academy and Elizade University, Ilara Mokin, Ondo State.

    “BEDC has since it commenced procurement and kitting of technical staff, such as linesmen, meter engineers with safety kits to roll off disaster management plan initiative, set up very effective Customer Complaint Unit that has resolved over 50,572 customer complaints.

    “With the new feeder separation, corporate customers, such as Guinness Nigeria Limited and Delta Steel Mills in Delta State, are enjoying better and quality power supply. We constructed over 360 route length of new distribution network to strengthen and expand our infrastructure,” the company added.

    On metering, BEDC said the number of customers that have pre-paid meters installed in their premises have risen to 43, 612, adding that 47 injection substations and 500 distribution transformers have been installed to provide relief to overloaded transformers and injection substations.

    The utility firm said it also constructed 10 dedicated transformers for key customers and replaced failed transformers, with additional injection of 398 distribution transformers.

    “We installed 40,612 meters under the Credited Advanced Payment for Metering Implementation (CAPMI) and metered 3,000 pre-CAPMI customers, commissioned 18 new transformers in various districts across BEDC coverage states,” it said.

    BEDC recorded a major milestone as the first distribution company to benefit from a grant funding by United States Trade and Development Agency (USTDA). This feat was achieved at a time when global lenders were beginning to evade investment in Nigeria’s power sector due to fears that the electricity tariff order in operations could not guarantee good returns on investments for the new owners of the power assets.

    BEDC’s core investor consortium Vigeo Power Limited (VPL) with the assistance of Citi Asset Management Limited (CAML), initiated offshore funding to ensure that strategic investments initiatives to be taken by BEDC will be based on adequate research and planning. The grant funding was offered for the purpose of Technical Assistance (TA) to update and modernise the electricity distribution network for BEDC in Nigeria.