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Tag: pension arrears’

  • Edo invites batches 41, 42 pensioners for verification, payment

    In continuation of the payment of pension arrears in the state, the Edo State Government has called on pensioners in batches 41 and 42 to present themselves for physical and documentary verification exercise.

    In a statement signed by the Permanent Secretary/Chairman, Pension Bureau, Inih-ivibodohu D.S. Juwobor, the state government said the verification exercise for those in batches 41 and 42 will take place at the Imaguero Hall, Benin City on Monday 26th, Tuesday 27th and March 2018.”

    Juwobor said those who missed the exercise in the past will be allowed to partake in the exercise so that they can claim their arrears.

    According to him, “Pensioners in batches 37, 38, 39 and 40 who failed to participate in previous verification exercise will be verified and screened alongside pensioners in batches 41 and 42.”

    He urged the pensioners to check the Office of the Head of Service on Thursday 22nd and Friday 23rd March 2018 for the list of pensioners in batches 41 and 42, adding, “Pensioners whose names appeared on the list should go to the venue of the verification exercise with: Pension Authority; Retirement Letter; Letter of First Appointment; Pension I.D. Card; Biometric Slip; and Bank details including bank name and Account Number.”

    “At the end of the verification exercise, the outstanding pension arrears will be credited into the pension account of each pensioner, shortly after due process and documentation by the relevant agencies involved in the payment process, are concluded,” he added.

    Read Also: Edo Govt. reinstates commitment to attract investors

     

  • ‘Pay us our 40-year-old civil war pension arrears’

    Nigerian civil war veterans in Lagos have appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to pay their 40-year pension arrears.

    The veterans, under the auspices of the Ex-Service Men and Families Welfare Association of Nigeria, Lagos division, said their entitlements had been denied them since the war ended.

    They said despite risking their lives to keep Nigeria one, their entitlements including war bonuses, were not settled after their discharge from the military.

    During a visit to The Nation yesterday, they presented a letter endorsed by their Director of Communications, Mr Peter Ogwoni, to President Buhari.

    According to the letter, many ex-service men lost their lives in the struggle to gain the government’s attention to the backlog of entitlements.

    They said the documentation and verification of ex-service men initiated by the Military Pension Board in 2015 was fruitless, as none of them was paid.

    The non-payment of pension, Ogwoni said, was only one of the many outstanding issues.

    He identified their concerns as including 53 per cent increment in monthly pensions unextended to retirees before 2010, unpaid 20.37 per cent arrears of military pension increment since 2010, harmonisation of military pensions and death-in-service insurance benefits for next-of-kin of fallen heroes.

    Ogwoni said: “We appeal to your Excellency to consider the following recommendations: ensuring that battlefield soldiers of the Nigerian Civil War, who were verified by the Military Pension Board, are considered for their near 40 years’arrears and regular pension.

    “The balances of the contributory pension gratuities and lump sum with Pension Commission should be paid to the concerned military veterans. 20.37 per cent balances of pension increment since 2010 should calculated and arrears be paid in lump sum.

    “Harmonisation of military pension should be implemented equitably and transparently because what happened last year was not harmonisation but haphazard allocation of funds to select people.

    “Military Veterans should be profiled and documented all over the country and engaged for internal security and civil military collaboration to enhance government efforts at fostering security and protection of critical infrastructure.”

    One of the veterans, Mr Festus Adegoke, 75, told The Nation that he narrowly escaped death in an accident, which occurred after a protest in Gwagwalada, Abuja.

    He lamented that many of the ex-service men who survived the civil war were not considered for their entitlements till their demise.

    He said: “I joined the force in 1967 and spent 13 years and 61 days in the service. When I was discharged, I was paid a gratuity of N2,000 in 1978. Along the line, those who just joined the army in 1992 were qualified for their pension immediately after 10 years. So, we had to write to the government asking what the fate of those who served in the civil war was.”

  • We ‘re not owing pension arrears, says PTAD

    We ‘re not owing pension arrears, says PTAD

    THE Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate ((PTAD) has said it is not holding on to any money meant for the payment of 33 per cent pension increase for pensioners.

    It said all funds released by the government has been duly utilised for the purpose it was meant for.

    In a statement, PTAD said it was not in arrears in the payment of pension to pensioner under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS), especially those in the Civil Service, parastatals, police and Customs, Immigration and Prison pensioners since it pays monthly pension as at when due.

    The statement added that the balance of the outstanding 33 per cent arrears has been included in the total pension liability established and reconciled by the Inter-ministerial Committee on Pension Liabilities, which was set up by President Muhammadu Buhari and chaired by the Honourable Minister of Finance.

    The statement reads: “The attention of the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has been drawn to certain misinformation making the rounds concerning the payment of 33 per cent arrears to pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS).

    “These unfounded stories suggested that the Federal Government had released various sums of money to PTAD for the settlement of 33  per cent pension arrears to pensioners and that PTAD is holding on to the money. Nothing could be further from the truth.

    “Ordinarily, the directorate wouldn’t have responded to these unsubstantiated claims. But having noticed that if these rumours were allowed to continue unabated, they are capable of exposing our pensioners to criminal scams perpetrated by pension fraudsters. It has, therefore, become imperative on the Directorate to set the records straight on the issue of 33  per cent, and indeed other pension related matters.

    “PTAD is not in arrears in the payment of Monthly Pension to Civil Service, parastatals, police and Customs, Immigration and Prison pensioners. The directorate pays monthly pension as at when due;

    “PTAD does not operate any account outside the Treasury Single Account (TSA) and all payments are made via GIFMIS or Remita, depending on the mode of release, as the Directorate is 100 per cent treasury funded.”

  • Osun spends N5.1b on salaries, pensions

    Osun spends N5.1b on salaries, pensions

    •NLC hails state govt

    THE Osun State government has explained how it disbursed the second tranche of its Paris Club loan refund it received from the Federal Government.

    Addressing reporters yesterday at his office in Osogbo, the state capital, Information Commissioner Adelani Baderinwa said N5,131,680,567.59 was expended on full salaries and pensions up till last month (July) for Levels 1 to 7 workers, being the most vulnerable, “the balance of the full salaries for the remaining workers up till August 2015, and balance of 2015 leave bonus”.

    The state government, in agreement with labour unions in the state, agreed to use the second tranche of the Paris Club loan refund for the payment of salaries and pensions.

    Baderinwa said: “Workers on levels 1 to 7, being the most vulnerable and the largest chunk of the state civil service, have received their full salaries and entitlement up to July, 2017. Likewise, workers on grade levels 8 to 11 comprising of 21,624 workers, showed understanding with the government to accept 75 per cent of their salaries and full leave bonus.

    “It is only workers on grade levels 12 to 17, who receive 50 per cent of salaries and full leave bonus. So far, they have also showed maturity and understanding with the state government. The same formula applies with our pensioners.”

    The commissioner said the payment formula was jointly agreed with the Labour-led Revenue Apportionment Committee, which consists of the labour union leaders and representatives of government, chaired by a veteran Labour leader, Comrade Hassan Sunmonu.

    The Apportionment Committee reviews revenues of government and agrees on how these are apportioned to pay salaries and pensions, he said.

    According to him, this model is unprecedented for governments in Nigeria.

    Also, the Chairman of the state chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Babatunde Jacob Adekomi, has given the Rauf Aregbesola administration a pass mark for disbursing the Paris Club loan refund well.

    Adekomi spoke on a radio programme monitored at the weekend.

     

     

     

     

     

     

  • Pensioners protest non-payment of Police pensions

    The Nigeria Union of Pensioners Wednesday protested the payment of three months pension arrears to pensioners of the Nigeria Police Force when their counterparts in other services were being paid between 24 and 42 months pension arrears.

    In a statement made available to The Nation in Abuja and signed by the National President,  Dr. Abel  Afolayan and General Secretary, Elder Actor Zal, the union describe the action as inhuman and appeal to President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene and ensure the prompt payment of the entitlement of the Police pensioners.

    The statement reads: “the Nigeria Union of Pensioners wishes to express her profound gratitude to the federal government for the payment of 12 months arrears of 33% pension increase to the civilian pensioners in Nigeria.

    “Equally, we are very appreciative of payment of 30 months arrears of same to the entire para-military pensioners of our union comprising, Customs, Immigration and Prisons service.

    “We are not unmindful of the current economic situation of the country especially this season of economic recession; President Muhammadu Buhari has really shown his great love for pensioners.

    “However, we want to appeal to the Federal Government in the same vein to kindly ensure speedy payment of the 18 months balance of this arrears to the civilian pensioners.

    “Equally, we were surprise that as the civilian pensioners collected 24 months, para-military got the entire 42 months arrears and the Nigerian military pensioners got 42 months.

    “It is surprising that the Nigeria Police pensioners got only 3 months. How on earth can someone explain this grave injustice done to the police pensioners. This is highly inexplainable.

    “We appeal to Mr. President to please use his love for all and good offices to address this great injustice being done to the members of the Nigeria Police Pensioners who have used their youthful period to serve the nation.”

  • PenCom seeks Buhari’s intervention on N114b retirees’ pension arrears

    PenCom seeks Buhari’s intervention on N114b retirees’ pension arrears

    • Over 12,000 retirees may be affected

    The National Pension Commission (PenCom), has appealed to President Muhammadu Buhari to make available N114billion to settle accrued benefits and pension increases of about 12,000 Federal Government retirees

    If this is not accomplished,  more than 8,193 retirees and death benefits of 4,847 deceased employees of the federal government would be denied their  benefits.

    PenCom Director-General, Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu who made this known in a report titled, “Introductory Notes to the President” made available yesterday, detailed the challenges encountered in the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS). She said the payment of retirement benefits under the Scheme to retirees, as well as death claims to beneficiaries of deceased employees, were regular and timely except for the delays being experienced in the settlement of accrued benefits of FGN retirees and deceased employees, whenever there are delays in the funding of the Retirement Benefits Bond Redemption Fund by the FGN as is the case in 2012, 2014 and 2015.

    She said N483.33 billion has been released into the Retirement Benefits Bonds Redemption Fund Account by the FGN, which was invested by the Central Bank of Nigeria and yielded N7.71 billion between 2006 and March 2015.

    Consequently, N490.09 was paid as accrued pension rights to 81,764 retirees and 15,244 deceased employees from inception to March 2015.

    She however noted that the Federal Government is yet to release monthly mandates for the payment of accrued rights for September to December 2014, and April to August 2015 amounting to N35.30 billion.

    Meanwhile, sha said the accrued benefits of 8,193 retirees and death benefits of 4,847 deceased employees amounting to N48.39 billion were processed for the period, February to August 2015, but were yet to be settled by the FGN.

    She stated that this clearly shows that even if the total outstanding monthly mandates were release there would still be a shortfall of N13.09 billion.

    In addition, the total mandate for September to December 2015 was N20.08 billion while the total accrued benefits for the period was N23.12 billion, which left a shortfall of N3.04 billion. Thus, even if all the mandates for the period September 2014 to August 2015 were released, there will still be underfunded to the tune of N16.13 billion, she said.

    To this end, the PenCom DG called for immediate settlement in order to avert crisis in the industry.

    She said: “In this regard, therefore, Mr. President is hereby respectfully invited to note the need for immediate settlement of N35.3 billion arrears by the Federal Government on accrued benefits for the months of September to December 2014 and April to August 2015.

  • Ogun releases N1.5b for pension arrears

    The Ogun State government released yesterday N1.5 billion for the payment of gratuities to pensioners and severance package of former political office holders.

    Over 561 ex-civil servants and former political office holders will benefit from it.

    In a statement, Commissioner for Information and Strategy Yusuph Olaniyonu said: “The gratuities will cover civil servants who retired between May, 2011 and November, 2012, who have filed their papers with the State Bureau of Pensions.

    “Also, ex-political office holders who served between 2007 and 2011 but were not paid their severance package by the last administration will benefit from the fund. The fresh release of N1.5 billion will further clear the arrears of pensions dating back to 2008, which were inherited by the Governor Ibikunle Amosun administration. The arrears would be cleared up to November, 2012, with the new release of fund.

    “The payment of gratuity and severance package is a further fulfillment of Amosun’s promise to ensure that everybody who served the state in various capacities and contributed to its development is paid their dues. With the release of this fund, the Amosun administration has paid N5.6 billion as gratuity in the last 34 months.”

  • Retirees urge Lagos on N4b pension arrears

    Lagos State pensioners under the old scheme, ‘Pay As You Go’, have appealed to the Lagos State Governor, Babatunde Fashola to pay pensioners their outstanding pension arrears of about N4 billion accumulated since the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

    Chairman, Association of Retirees, Lagos, Chief Rasheed Olu-Ajayi, said the money accumulated following the 142 per cent increment was approved by 2000.

    Olu-Ajayi, however said Governor Fashola has paid 36 months, amounting to N5.6 million about four years ago, adding that there has been an increase of 15 per cent, six per cent and 33 per cent after the Obasanjo’s administration.

    He said the retirees under the scheme include 12,000 local government employees, about 8,000 teachers from the teaching services, civil services and other parastatals.

    He lamented that pensioners are dying every day wondering con if the remaining pensioners will ever live to enjoy the benefits before they pass on.

    He commended the governor for regular payment of monthly pension.

    He said: “Other state governors that came on board now have been settling some of their arrears although they have limited number of pensioners. I cannot just challenge without thanking the governor for the monthly payments because without the monthly payment over the years, things would have been worse for us.

    “We have made our pleas that our arrears be paid and we have even gone spiritual. We have threatened but what can we do? We cannot go on strike. It would be the worst for us. We are just pleading with the state government and we are hoping that Governor Fashola will pay us as part of his parting gift to us.

    “There are some of us who are over 80 years old now. They are still attending meetings to see when they are going to get their fund.”

  • ‘Pay our pension arrears’

    ‘Pay our pension arrears’

    PENSIONERS in Lagos State under the ‘Pay As You Go’ (PAYG) schemeshave appealed to the Federal Government to take the non-payment of their pension seriously. An 89-year-old pensioner, Chief Joseph Odunuga, who spoke to The Nation after the Lagos State Civil Service Commission gave him a wheel chair during a verification in Lagos, said he had not received his pension arrears in three years. The pensioner, who said he has written a petition to the Federal Government, sought for the payment of his pension arrears. He said he worked for the Federal Government for 28 years and Lagos State for seven years. He said: “I am not happy with the government because in the past three years, they have not paid me. I have written a petition the government, but I have not received any reply”. ‘’I serve with the Federal Government for 28 years and state government for seven years. I have been getting my federal share regularly but at present, I don’t get any pension from both the Federal and state government. Chief Collins Ayoade, who worked in the Ministry of Finance and retired in 1989, said the government promised it would pay pension arrears but the promises were not fulfilled. He noted that most pensioners did not get their pension since 2001 except for a few people. “Each time we go to the pension office, the government keep telling us there is no money. The pensioners, who retired before 2001 are getting their pension but those who retire from 2001, when the Federal Government said it would not be involved in pension payment are not getting their money. “A lot of pension money is hanging with Federal Government and they have refused to pay to the states and we are praying to God so that they can pay us our entitlements,” he said. Commissioner for Establishment, Lagos Civil Service Pensions Office, Mrs. Modupe Oguntuase, said the state government had been fulfilling her obligation to the pensioners in the two schemes. She said the state issued N18.9 billion cheque for the payment of retirement benefits to its pensioners. She stressed that on assumption of office in 2011, representations through letters and visits, were made by the ministry to the Office of the Head of Service of the Federation in Abuja on the matter. “It is noteworthy to state that the Senate Public Hearing on pension that sat at the Airport Hotel where our positions were highlighted through submission of relevant document is yet to receive any attention,” she added.