Tag: pension

UFOT: Good day, my name is Ufot. I wish to complain about my unpaid pension by my former employer of over three years. The name of my former employer is Caverton Helicopters Offshore Support Group with an office at Murtala Muhammed International Airport, Ikeja.

My PFA is ARM Pension. I have not yet retired as I am still under 60. Caverton Offshore Support Group put me on furlough and even before they put me on leave without pay, they had not been paying my pension contributions to my PFA for over three years, yet they were deducting my part of contributions from my salary without adding their part of the contribution to remit to my pension administrator. I would appreciate it if you can compel them to pay my money for years as it runs into a couple of millions. If you require any form of proof I can provide them. Thank you.

PENCOM: Dear Mr. Ufot, kindly write a letter of non-remittance to the Compliance and Enforcement Department of the National Pension Commission, stating the necessary information such as name and address of the employer, period in which remittances were not made and any other useful information in order for your complaint to be resolved.

FATAI: I applied to my PFA, Stanbic IBTC, for my pension benefit for more than a year. Since then, I have been receiving messages from them thanking me for my patience and informing me that they are yet to get approval from PenCom. I want to sue them. Should I  sue PenCom or LASPEC?

PENCOM: Dear Mr. Fatai, please be advised that your request is yet to be forwarded to the Commission. Kindly liaise with your PFA.

SANI: My name is Sani. I worked with West African Postgraduate Medical College,Yaba, Lagos. We chose Leadway Pensure Pfa Limited at Number 121/123 Funsho Williams Avenue, Surulere, Lagos.

My pension contributions employer/employee has been fully remitted to the Leadway. Also, my legacy has been fully remitted to the Leadway. I retired since March 31, 2023 and have submitted the necessary documents for RSA and legacy to be paid to me since May 2023.

Leadway told me that my documents were rejected because I did not put my pay slip. I sent the pay slip to them. Since then, no payment has been made to me.

Read Also: CPIN’s honours for pension champions

Leadway’s response is that PenCom has not approved my documents to pay me. Please, I want you to intervene so that my money can be paid to me. It has been six months that I am at home without earning a salary. Thank you.         

PENCOM: Dear sir, please carry out the Enrolment, and submit the Enrolment slip, you may wish to visit www.pencom.gov.ng for guidance on how to get enrolled.

ANNONYMOUS: I have a problem with my pension. I am a police officer. My pension has not been paid into my pension account since 2017. I have been on this for the past three years by moving from one office to another but all my effort proved abortive. Kindly help me.

PENCOM: Kindly provide your name and PIN.

OSEZUA: Hello, my complaint is that I don’t know which pension I belong to. I was enlisted into the Nigeria Police Force on November 1, 2008. I was told by Fidelity Pensions and Trustfund Pensions that my savings have been transferred to PenCom. Till date, I don’t know which PFA I belong to, whether my money is with Pencom or with Nigeria Police Pension (NPF). Kindly assist me to know where I belong. Thank you.   

PENCOM: Dear sir, please visit your preferred Pension Fund Administrator among the two PFAs and undergo the Data Recapture.

MOHAMMED: Dear sir, we are the administrators of our late father Mohammed. He worked at the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) from 1987 and was sacked by the Presidential Task Force in 2006. Since then, we have not collected one kobo from the National Pension Commission or NIS. We don’t know where to go or what to do. Help us out.

PENCOM: Please provide the PFA and PIN number to enable the Commission to investigate your complaint.

SALIU: My name is Saliu. I understand that it takes five working days for approval to come from you when a PFA forwards an application. I want to find out why it’s not so with my application. It is over two weeks, according to Leadway Pension, that my application has been sent to you. What is holding it?

PENCOM: Dear Mr. Saliu, kindly provide the name of your Pension Fund Administrator to enable the Commission process the complaint.

EYEREGBA: I am Eyeregba. I work at Cappa & D’Alberto Lagos. I sent a complaint via email to info@pencom.com.gov.ng on August 1, 2023 on my pension contribution for December 2021 and February 2022 not remitted to my account.

I attached evidence of non-remittance in the mail. Please I have not received any feedback on my complaint after two weeks and my money is not yet recovered. My PFA is Stanbic IBTC Pension but I was formerly with FCMB Pension.

PENCOM: The complainant did not attach relevant documents that would enable the Commission to process his request. Therefore there would be a need to forward Complainant’s Name, Personal Identification Number (PIN); Pension Fund Administrator (PFA) Name; and Employer Name (if applicable). The provision of these details will help us expedite the resolution.

GSALAMI: Dear Omobola, I would like to say a big thank you for your prompt intervention in my pension case with Stanbic IBTC Pension.

 It would be recalled that I complained about Stanbic not paying my pension. Upon attaining age 50 in 2023, I applied  for withdrawal.

 After several correspondence and having submitted the necessary documents, Stanbic said they were unable to proceed with my contribution calculation because my last employer May& Baker said I didn’t do clearance following the termination of my appointment in 2013.

 All my explanations to Stanbic fell on deaf ears. We have been on the matter since April, last year. My pension contribution was not from May & Baker alone. I believe that this was a ploy by IBTC to deny me my right to access my fund. But, I am glad to inform you that the issue has been resolved and I have been placed on a monthly pension after the initial bulk payment. Thanks to you and your wonderful team. Salami from Ibadan, Oyo State.

ANICHEBE:   My name is Anichebe and my PFA is ARM Pension. I am an Annuitant with African Alliance Insurance Plc. I opted to be paid once in a year which was pegged on March every year; this choice was to enable me to submit my children’s sponsorship. Since the end of March 2024, the African Alliance has refused to pay me. As of yesterday, I have not been paid in March, April and May and June. They usually pay by 19th of the month and today is the 18th already.  I am not the only victim; please help us. 

KAZEEM: Good day, my name is Kazeem. I retired from the National Population Commission on May 1, 2023. I have been to my pension manager, Stanbic IBTC, for my accrued right or gratuities. They always tell me that it has not been paid. I need money urgently to do the operation of my right leg at Igbobi Orthopaedic Hospital, Yaba, Lagos.

I was infected with the wound while working at CENSOR in 2006. Ever since, I have been spending my money on the leg because the commission did not take care of me. I spent my cooperative contribution on the leg until I was told that I was going to be operated on for skin grafts. I have been waiting for my pension money to take care of my leg. Things are difficult for me. Kindly help me. I am not able to feed myself and children nor can I pay school fees. BROWN: My name is Brown, I retired from the Nigerian Customs Service, on grade level 10 step 10. My take home pay is N30,000. We have been complaining but our Comptroller-General of Customs (CGC) has refused to adjust our salary. We are tired and we will soon block Custom headquarters. We are appealing to the CGC to look into our request as a matter of emergency.

CHRISTIAN: Good day, my name is Christian. I retired on August 31, 2016. My state bond from Asaba is N9,575,884. My RSA is N3,247,548. Added together, it amounts to N12,823,432. And if divided by two, it will make the 50 per cent of which I was to be paid as my lump sum and the balance to be sent to my annuity insurance company, Salam Insurance. But I was shocked when Oak Pension paid me N5,872,848, which fell below 50 per cent. They sent the balance N6411716 to my annuity programme. In all, my lump sum is short paid by N538,868. PenCom should help correct this abnormality so that I can get my correct entitlement.

BRAIMAH: Good day, my name is Braimah. I retired in June 2022 from the Nigeria Customs Service. When I approached my PFA Premium Pension for my benefits in 2023, my annuity application was rejected and I was told to stay a year on Programmed Withdrawal. I was told that I can apply for annuity after a year of earning on Programmed Withdrawal. It is a year, so I submitted an annuity agreement via DHL from Auchi to Abuja as there is no Premium Pension office here in Auchi. I just checked and I realised my application was rejected. I have been calling to know why but no response. Please help me.

Read Also: Kaduna spends N19.9bn on pension, gratuity, death benefits in one year – Bureau

ANNONYMOUS: Good day, I am having a huge challenge with getting either PenCom or my PFA, Premium Pension Limited to respond to my numerous mails to them on my pension benefits. I retired from the Federal Civil Service on May 1, 2022 and had my corrected enrolment form reportedly submitted early this year. I will appreciate any useful information about the process of getting my pension benefits. Thank you.

ELLIS: My name is Ellis. I am a Next-Of-kin to a police officer, Francis. My brother, Kelvin and I, were verified in 2015 in Lagos. I have the Letter of Administration and our verification slips. Where do I send my documents for payment?

JULIET: My name is Juliet. My former employer is holding onto my pension funds even though I stopped working for over a year. I requested payment over three months but so far nothing has been done. Kindly assist me please.

SABO: My name is Sabo. I submitted my annuity transfer letter to ARM Pension but till now, they have not done the transfer. Please help so that ARM will do the transfer to my chosen insurance company.

THE NATION: The newspaper will intervene by sending your complaint to PenCom. Therefore, Anichebe, Kazeem, Brown, Christian, Braima, Ellis, Juliet and Sabo should watch out for the pension page on Wednesdays for their response and subsequently every Wednesday for pension news.

• All skipped payments to be paid in one week

The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has asked pensioners under the Old Pension Scheme (DBS) that were suspended from the payroll due to their inability to confirm their aliveness not to panic.

The Executive Secretary, PTAD, Mrs Chioma Ejikeme, made this known yesterday.

She said the Directorate has put a system in place to restore such pensioners to the payroll once the “I Am Alive” Confirmation (IAAC) Solution is done by the pensioners.

She assured that the payment of the monthly pension would be made within a week of receiving IAAC and arrears paid if any.

She, however, appealed to affected pensioners to endeavour to confirm their aliveness through the IAAC.

Ejikeme recalled that that on October 12, 2021, PTAD launched the Pilot Phase of the “I Am Alive” Solution, an online application designed to enable pensioners under the Defined Benefits Scheme confirm their aliveness from the comfort of their homes or neighbourhood, using either a smartphone or a computer system.

She said: “You may also recall that at inception, PTAD embarked on massive verification exercises which took place between 2014 and 2019 across all the geopolitical zones of Nigeria. The field verification exercises cut across all the operational departments of the Directorate, namely the Civil Service Pension Department, The Police Pension Department, The Customs, Immigration and Prisons Pension Department, and finally, The Parastatals Pension Department.

Read Also: Senate recalls Ningi from three-month suspension

“The aim of the verification was to ascertain eligible pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme, enroll eligible pensioners who were hitherto not on the Directorate’s Payroll, while promptly removing the unqualified. The field verification was immensely successful and beneficial to the operations of PTAD resulting in a comprehensive and reliable database, which facilitates the process of budget preparation, accurate pension payments and the determination of outstanding pension liabilities. “However, continuing with periodic field verifications to ascertain the aliveness of our pensioners is not only expensive both for the pensioners and government but is also a stressful exercise for our senior citizens. Looking for a solution that would eliminate field verifications became imperative and gave birth to the I Am Alive Confirmation (IAAC) Solution,” she added.

CHRISTIAN: Good day, my name is Christian. I retired on August 31, 2016. My state bond from Asaba is N9,575,884. My RSA is 3,247,548. Added together, it amounts to N12,823,432. And if the above total amount is divided by two, it will take one to the 50 per cent, of which I was to be paid as my lump sum and the balance to be sent to my annuity insurance company which is Salam Insurance. But it was a shock to me when Oak Pension paid me N5,872,848, which fell below the 50 per cent for me as my lump sum and they sent the correct 50 per cent ( N6,411,716 ) to my annuity programme. In all, my lump sum is short paid with a total of N538,868. PenCom should help see to this abnormality in the payment and help correct it so that I can get my correct entitlement. Thank you.

PENCOM: Please provide your PIN

OKPOSO:  I retired on September 22, 2022 from Cfao Nigeria Plc. Please, assist me on the non-payment of my pension from July 2023 to March 2024. Best regards.    

PENCOM: Please, provide RSA PIN

MOHAMMED: I am Bawa. Dear sir, we are the administrator of our late father Mohammed. He worked with the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) from 1987 and was kicked out during the Presidential Task force in 2006. Since then, we have not collected one kobo from the National Pension Commission or NIS. We don’t know where to go or what to do. Help us out.

PENCOM: Please, provide the PFA and PIN number to enable the Commission to investigate your complaint.

SALIU: My name is Saliu. I understand it takes five working days for approval to come from you when a PFA forwards application. I want to find out why it’s not so with my application. It is over two weeks, according to Leadway Pension, that my application has been sent to you. What is holding it?

 PENCOM: Dear Mr. Saliu, kindly provide the name of your Pension Fund Administrator (PFA) to enable the Commission process the complaint.

ANNONYMOUS: I am a police officer. My pension has not been paid into my pension account since 2017. I have been on this for the past three years by moving from one office to another but my efforts proved abortive. Kindly help me.

PENCOM: Kindly provide your name and PIN.

ANNONYMOUS: Good day, I am Omobulejo. I retired on August 15, 2020 at the Vintage Press Limited in Lagos. I regularised my documents with my PFA, Stanbic IBTC confirmed it in November 2021. Since then, they send me messages to be patient. For how long will I be patient? I have no job at hand. Thank you.

PENCOM: Please, visit your PFA to resubmit your application.

ANNONYMOUS: l recently retired from one of the MDAs. What do I do to get my benefits?

PENCOM: Please, visit your PFA and ensure that you have the required documents, have undergone the enrolment and data recapture (if applicable). Your PFA will provide more information to you and guide you through the process.

OLOWOYEYE: Good day, I wish to inform you that the Access PFA have responded to my calls. I am grateful for your intervention. Thanks a lot.

THE NATION: The newspaper is excited that your complaint has been resolved.

OBADARE: My name is Obadare. I am a retiree from Radio Nigeria. I did my PenCom verification in September 2022 but I am yet to be paid my pension. Kindly look into my case, thank you.

PENCOM: Dear Obadare, kindly provide the name of your Pension Fund Administrator to enable the Commission process the complaint.

Read Also: Senate recalls Ningi from three-month suspension

BALOGUN: Hello, my name is Balogun. My employer’s name is Amazuma Services Limited. I don’t know my pension company. Kindly help me.

PENCOM: Dear Mr. Balogun, you are advised to approach your Pension Fund Administrator to make enquiries.

ASP. RTD. BOLARINWA: Dear Omobola, my name Is Bolarinwa, a retired ASP. I quit service in September 2023. I was unable to get my discharge certificate due to my inability to offset my bank loan because I have to present a non-indebted letter to process it. I don’t know if I can withdraw out of my savings to offset It.

PENCOM: Dear Mr. Bolarinwa, you are advised to approach your Pension Fund Administrator for further directives.

ANNONYMOUS: Good day, I am from Maritime Academy of Nigeria, Oron. I can’t enrol and verify 2024 retirees on PenCom Porter. What do I do?

PENCOM: Please, send the complaint to info@pencom.gov.ng

OLAYINKA: Hello, my name is Olayinka and my employer is NDA, Kaduna. My PFA is Leadway Pensure. I have completed my benefits enrolment with my PFA since July 12, 2023. l want to know the status of the reconciliation of my account. I completed my verification about two months ago and it was forwarded by my PFA to PenCom for reconciliation. Thank you.

ANNONYMOUS: Good day, l started work in the then Cross River State. My appointment letter was issued to me on October 31, 1975 and I retired in November 2010 from Internal Revenue, Akwa lbom State. I have been collecting state pensions. But please can you enlighten me on how I can get the federal pension. God bless you.

CHRISTIAN: Good day, my name is Christian, I retired on August 31, 2016. My state bond from Asaba is N9,575,884. My RSA is N3,247,548. When added, it amounts to N12,823,432. And if the above total amount is divided by two, it will take one to the 50 per cent of which I was to be paid as my lump sum and the balance to be sent to my annuity insurance company which is Salam Insurance.  But I was shocked when Oak Pension paid me N5,872,848, which fell below the 50 per cent for me as my lump sum and they sent the correct 50 per cent ( N6,411,716 ) to my annuity programme. In all, my lump sum is short paid with a total of N538,868. PenCom should help see to this abnormality in the payment and help correct it so that I can get my correct entitlement. Thank you.

EBENEZER: Good day, I am Ebenezer. I am a retiree with Crusader Sterling Pension as my PFA. My PFA refused to pay my April pension just because I gave them notification this month that I want to move to annuity for personal reasons. They decided to frustrate me. I depend solely on this. Please, urgently intervene and deliver us from this misconduct.This is happening in Abeokuta branch. Thank you.

JACOB: Dear Omobola, my name is Jacob. I write to complain about the prevention and delay in the processing of my provisional agreement which I submitted to FCMB Pensions in November 2023, to purchase an Annuity plan. I am aware of my right to choose between Programme Withdrawal and Annuity for life and I have decided to use the balance in my RSA to purchase Annuity for life. I, therefore, appeal to you to prevail on FCMB Pensions to process and transfer my RSA balance to Leadway Assurance without further delay. Thank you

Read Also: Retired police officers protest over unpaid pensions

MUSTAPHA:  My name Mustapha, I am a Police Officer. My PFA is Crusader Sterling Pension. I worked on my transfer to the Police Pension in 2017. In 2018 they sent me a text message that my transfer is successful but there is an issue with the certificate. I was told to go back to Crusader to do my DRE, which I did. But, since 2023, they kept tossing me up and down, directing me to come back tomorrow or next tomorrow. They will tell me the problem is from PenCom today, another day it is from the zonal office. The lady handling my case, Eve, is said to be on maternity leave. On April 2, 2024, they told me there was a fire outbreak at the PenCom office in Abuja. Crusader also told me that most of my fund had not been remitted or the Police are holding most of my fund. PenCom, you are my last hope. Please help me.

IKECHI: Good day, I am Ikechi, who worked with Aero Contractors Company, Port Harcourt, and receiving my pension from Trustfund Pension here in Port Harcourt. I later made up my mind to move to Annuity Life with Sanlam Nigeria on March 24, 2024. I went to the manager’s office to submit their copy of the agreement but the manager refused to collect their copy. Kindly intervene and call the manager to order since it is my right to join any insurance company of my choice.

ERIC: My name is Eric. I write to complain about the prevention and delay in the processing of my provisional agreement which I submitted to Premium Pension on January 18, 2024 to purchase Annuity for life but was not treated without feedback. I submitted it again on March 5, 2024, yet no feedback. I am very much aware of my right to choose between Programme Withdrawal and Annuity for life and I have decided to go for Annuity for life. I therefore appeal to you to use the power in your office to compel Premium Pension to process and transfer my RSA balance to Leadway Assurance without further delay because I don’t want to restart the process of the transfer again.

THE NATION: The newspaper will intervene by sending your complaint to PenCom. Watch out for the pension page on Wednesdays for your response and subsequently every Wednesday for pension news.

OKPOSO:  I retired on September 22, 2022, from CFAO Nig. Plc. Please, assist me on the non-payment of my pension from July 2023 to March 2024. Best regards.     

PENCOM: Dear Pastor Okposo, kindly forward your RSA PIN as well as other necessary information to enable the Commission to investigate further.