The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Pensioners

  • Pensioners seek intervention on pay

    The Southeast zone of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP) has urged the Federal Government to intervene on their pensions and gratuities unpaid for over 15 years in some states in the region. Their appeal was contained in a six-point communiqué issued by the union at the end of its zonal meeting in Abakaliki.

    The communiqué which was signed by the zonal chairman, Prince Clement Igwe and secretary, Mr Livinus Ashiegbu condemned the pension situation in the region, saying, “The governments are woefully unfriendly and insensitive to the plight of pensioners. Based on this development, the forum is calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene in order to resolve the situation.

    The pensioners urged the federal government to make a policy on the fate of pensioners

    who retired from July 2007.

    The meeting also urged the government to compel state governments who have not implemented the contributory Pensions Act of 2004 to do so immediately.

    Giving the situation report about pensioners in Abia the state secretary, Elder Onwunmere Arungwa noted that pensioners who retired in 1999 and subsequent years (15 years) were yet to receive their gratuities.

    He said that the situation was the same with the monthly pension scheme which was in arrears of several months.

    “It is unfortunate that some pensioners in Abia still receive less than N1,000 a month due to non implementation of the various pension increases,” he said.

    On its part, the Imo state chairman of the union, Chief Gideon Ezeji said that retired primary school teachers in the state were being owed 20 months of pensions and gratuities by the present administration while “pensions are still worked out on N6,500 out-dated minimum wage.’’

    “The only explanation the governor is giving to Imo state pensioners is that he has not received any bailout for the payment of pensions and gratuities to Imo pensioners.

    “The pensioners of Imo state are at sea as to what they have done to merit the present death sentence by our governor,” he said.

     

  • Pensioners decry unpaid entitlements

    Pensioners decry unpaid entitlements

    The Nigeria Union of Pensioners in the Southeast has lamented their unpaid entitlements, running into 15 years.

    In a six-point communiqué at the end of its meeting in Abakaliki at the weekend, the pensioners called on the Federal Government to intervene in their situation.

    The communiqué, signed by the Chairman, Prince Clement Igwe and Secretary, Evang. Livinus Ashiegbu, condemned the situation, saying: “the governments are unfriendly and insensitive to the plight of pensioners.”

    The forum frowned at the government’s refusal to pay their pension increases of six, 15 and 33 per cent.

    “This situation has made pensioners receive less than their counterparts. Based on this development, the Southeast forum is calling on President Muhammadu Buhari to intervene in our predicament,” the communiqué said.

  • Pensioners’ forum in Osogbo

    Pensioners’ forum in Osogbo

    A pension fund administrator, Oak Pensions Limited, is organising a special interactive session with its account holders in Osogbo, the Osun State capital.

    A statement by the company’s Southwest zonal head, Kayode Labade, said the interface would hold tomorrow at the NUT House, Iwo Road.

    Labade said: “All issues relating to easy access to individual retirement saving accounts, expert advice on wise investment would be addressed at the meeting. We enjoin all account holders to participate in this parley.”

     

  • Pensioners face tax returns, fines under saving revolution

    Tens of thousands of pensioners could be forced to fill in tax returns for the first time or face fines under the government’s “savings revolution”, leading accountants and savings experts have warned.

    They said from April next year people may be required to declare when the interest they earn from their savings exceeds £1,000 for a basic rate taxpayer or £500 for a higher rate taxpayer.

    Pensioners with even modest savings could unwittingly be cut out and face fines and even prosecution by HMRC if they fail to act and declare the income, they suggested.

    Patricia Mock, a tax director at Deloitte, said: “This could particularly hit pensioners, people who are basic rate taxpayers who in the past far haven’t needed to file a tax return. There is going to be a massive communications exercise, it will be very difficult.”

    HMRC denied the claims and said that there is “no question whatsoever of savers having to complete tax returns”. It said it is looking at a “range of options” to make it easier for savers to report income but that this “definitely won’t include filling in tax returns”.

    In his Budget earlier this year, George Osborne announced plans to ensure that 95 per cent of savers equivalent to 17 million people – will no longer have to pay tax on their savings.

    Under the new Personal Savings Allowance, higher-rate taxpayers will be able to earn up to £500 from bank accounts tax-free. Basic-rate taxpayers will no longer pay tax on the first £1,000 they earn from bank accounts.

  • Ekiti pensioners demand payment

    Ekiti pensioners demand payment

    Pensioners in Ekiti State are asking Governor Ayo Fayose to explain the state’s indebtedness to them.

    The state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) has written to Fayose, following his silence on the amount owed retirees during his broadcast on the “bailout” package from the Federal Government.

    The body said the governor’s failure to speak was causing anxiety among them.

    A copy of the letter signed by the state NUP Chairman, Elder Ayo Kumapayi, and Secretary Kayode Ogedengbe, said the government’s explanation would go a long way to calm the agitated pensioners.

    The letter reads: “The attention of the Ekiti State Council of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) has been drawn to the government’s pronouncement on the funds released to states by the Federal Government.

    “It is noted that the state government did not mention its indebtedness to pensioners in the pronouncement.

    “This has been causing much anxiety among pensioners. We hope, also, that the matter would be treated with the urgency which, we believe, it deserves.”

  • Pensioners give Kogi seven-day ultimatum

    The Kogi State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) has given Governor Idris Wada a seven-day ultimatum to withdraw the services of a consultant engaged by the Accountant-General (AG), Ibrahim Idakwo, to handle pension payment or face a protest.

    Addressing reporters in Lokoja at the weekend, the NUP Chairman, Comrade Onuh Abdullaihi, said the ultimatum became necessary to prevent the hijack of the payment of monthly pension from the Bureau of State Government Pensions by the consultant, which he claimed was engaged by the AG in April last year.

    He said: “Since 2012, pensions have been paid through electronic device or e-platform. But the AG misinformed Governor Wada that such payment was being made manually.

    “The AG requested the governor to grant approval for the introduction of the platform in the payment of monthly pensions and it was approved.”

    Abdullaihi said based on the approval, the AG employed the services of a consultant to make the payment in April last year, adding that the pensioners opposed the arrangement by writing the government and agencies on the consequence of the action, but to no avail.

    He alleged that following the development, the names of 225 pensioners were omitted from the payment voucher last April and a new placement for the receipt of pension was left out.

    The NUP chairman added: “In April, over N19.92million was withheld by the accountant-general from the required money released for pension payment. In May, the same consultant was used by the AG to effect the payment and the same mistake of April was repeated. The AG instructed the consultant to deduct money ranging from N200 to N1,000 from the salaries of pensioners.”

    He said the advice to make the government understand that the AG was out to cause confusion and inflict pains on pensioners was not heeded and most of the affected pensioners were yet to receive their payment.

    Abdullaihi said the AG’s action was a disregard for the rule of law.

    His words: “Based on this, we are giving a seven-day ultimatum to the government to disengage the consultant. The accountant- general should make the consultant refund the money deducted from the pensioners’ money. Failure to do this, the union will be compelled to embark on a peaceful demonstration.”a

  • Pensioners give Kogi govt seven days ultimatum

    Pensioners give Kogi govt seven days ultimatum

    The Kogi State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) has given a seven-day ultimatum to Governor Idris Wada Kogi to withdraw the services of a consultant engaged by the Accountant General (AG) of the state, Ibrahim Idakwo to handle pension payment or face demonstration.

    Addressing journalists in Lokoja at the weekend, the NUP chairman, Comrade Onuh Abdullaihi said the ultimatum became necessary to prevent the hijack of payment of monthly pension from the Bureau of State Government Pensions by the consultant which he claimed was engaged by the AG in April, 2014.

    He stated: “Since 2012, pensions have been paid through electronic device or e-platform, but the AG misinformed Governor Idris Wada that such payment were being made manually. The AG requested the governor to grant approval for the introduction of the platform in the payment of monthly pensions and it was approved immediately”.

    According to him, based on the approval, the AG employed the services of a consultant to make the payment in April 2014, adding that the pensioners opposed the arrangement by writing the state government and other relevant agencies on the possible consequence of the action but to no avail.

    He alleged that as a result of the development the names of about 225 pensioners were omitted from the payment voucher in April 2015, while a new placement for receipt of pension in April were also left out.

  • Pensioners’ plea to Mimiko

    SIR: I write to plead on behalf of the elderly who make the highest percentage of pensioners in Ondo State. For three months now, they haven’t received their pensions and this is taking its toll on their health and families. This is not far-fetched since they remain benefactors to some of their children who are still dependent on them due to the high rate of youth unemployment in the country.

    Sir, the stipend they get may seem intangible to you, but it helps alleviate the cost of feeding their families and also pay associated bills for their welfare and survival. Moreover, some of them are widows with no other tangible source of income for survival having spent several years in the service of the Ondo State government. They may be old and retired but these set of people are very precious in God’s sight. Indeed, the Holy book gives a warning concerning subjecting them to any form of oppression and denial.

    It is inevitable you would cease to be governor one day; you do not want the children of these pensioners to remember you as a governor who did not pay pensions, and who allowed their parents to develop complications from high blood pressure and related medical conditions as a result of being denied their rights of getting their pensions at the appropriate time. This can be prevented by paying their pensions NOW.

    Please be reminded that as governor, you are responsible to the citizenry. Don’t abdicate this responsibility so posterity will account for you in good light. Please pay Ondo State pensioners their entitlement!

    Elections are now over; let us live in the world of reality. Do not dim the sun in the sunshine state. Let us all keep it shining by doing what is right and pleasing to God.

     

    • Dami Adeoye,

    Lagos

     

     

  • Pensioners protest unpaid arrears in Ibadan

    Pensioners protest unpaid arrears in Ibadan

    Pensioners, under the aegis of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), yesterday stormed the Government House, Ibadan, the Oyo State capital, to protest unpaid pension arrears.

    The pensioners sang solidarity songs and carried placards with inscriptions: “We reject NLC,TUC and government MOU”; “Muhammadu Buhari bail pensioners out before we die”; “Stop avoidable deaths”; “Please pay us immediately” and others.

    The protesters, led by Gbade Akande, who spoke on behalf of the state NUP Chairman, Ganiyu Azeez, said the government owe them six months arrears while that of primary school teachers is between eight to 25 months.

    The pensioners demanded, among other things, the payment of February to June pensions, payment of eight to 25 months pension to retired primary school teachers, an increase of fund to the Ministry of Establishment to pay gratuity and payment of gratuity to the retired teachers.

    Others are implementation of six per cent and l5 per cent increase for retired local government workers, payment of arrears of six per cent and l5 per cent pension increase and reinstatement of pensioners, whose names were unjustifiably removed.

    The protesters also appealed to the Federal Government to come to their rescue.

    Deputy Governor Moses Alake Adeyemo thanked the pensioners for their patience.

    He called for more understanding, adding that the situation is not peculiar to the state alone.

  • Pensioners elect new leaders

    The UNILORIN Branch of the Federal Universities Pensioners’ Association (FUPA) has elected new officers to pilot its affairs for the next four years.

    Mr. M. A. Oyenpemi is chairman, while Alhaji A. A. Lawal, vice chairman.

    Other officers include: Mr F. S. Kugbayi, Secretary; Mr Adebayo Ogunsola, Assistant Secretary; Mr Sunday Oyeniran, Treasurer; Mr T. O. Famuyiwa, Financial Secretary; Mr Kehinde Olufolaju, Internal Auditor; and Mr. Gbemisoye Alade, Public Relations Officer.

    Elected Ex-Officio members are Mr E. I. Saliu and Alhaja S. A. Elelu.