The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Pensioners

  • Pensioners endorse Ayade for second term

    NIGERIA Union of Pensioners (NUP) in Cross River State has endorsed Governor Ben Ayade for a second term.

    Chairman Ntamu Adie spoke during the 2018 edition of NUP Day in Calabar.

    According to Adie, the governor had performed well, especially in industrialisation, and pledged that members will vote for him.

    Read also: Why my focus is on industrialisation, by Ayade

    He said: “We thank our industrialising governor  Ben Ayade and his team who are working to change the Cross River State landscape. The NUP and pensioners endorse you for a second term in office.

    “Our men and women will vote you back into office as governor. Our word is our bond.”

     

  • Pensioners celebrate retired permanent secretary

    For distinguishing himself in office, pensioners in Ondo State under the aegis of Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), at the weekend trooped out to celebrate the retired Permanent Secretary (PS) of the State Local Government Pension Transitional Department, Dare Olipede.

    The top civil servant bowed out of the state public service amid encomiums from pensioners.

    The senior citizens said they were celebrating Olipede for his meritorious service and love for pensioners while in office.

    The Chairman of Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) Chief Raphael Adetuwo who spoke on behalf of his colleagues said Olipede served with integrity without any form of financial impropriety.

    He revealed that he took welfare of Pensioners with almost priority, which resulted in prompt payment of pensions and gratuity by the state government.

    The State Head of Service (HoS) Toyin Akinkuotu urged workers to offer more support to Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu to aid good welfare packages and prompt payment of workers’ salaries.

    Akinkuotu maintained that Akeredolu’s commitment to the payment of six months backlog of salaries deserved  to be commended by the workers.

    Akinkuotu described Olipede, a lawyer, as a man who brought a lot of reforms to the service with his courage, commitment and dedication to duty.

    He noted that the retired Permanent Secretary never involved himself in any form of financial misappropriation, adding that it was unscrupulous persons in the systems who were intimidated by his achievements that raised issues against him.

    He said: “I want to congratulate my brother and friend on his efforts over the years in service. He is a courageous officer, a man of action who served meritoriously. He is always passionate about workers’ welfare, especially pensioners.

    “Through his efforts, the government increased payment of gratuity from N15 million to N150 million monthly.

    “I want to advise workers to continue to support and appreciate Akeredolu’s government, particularly his welfare policies. Six out of seven months’ salary arears have been paid.

    On her part, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mrs Lola Fagbemi said the retired PS left an indelible mark at the Pension Transitional Department with his contributions to the welfare of pensioners.

    She said: “As a Permanent Secretary, his stay in PTD was very brief yet he was able to leave a positive mark. He has also been able to touch the lives of some pensioners in his own little way,” she said.

    Olipede expressed his gratitude to workers in the department for their co-operation and commitment during his time.

    He stressed that through his interventions, the pension department recorded successes that improved the lives of pensioners in the state.

    His words: “I want to advise civil servants to be committed to their jobs because what they are experiencing today is a product of dedication and commitment.

    “Before now, the Pension Department was not represented at the Joint Account Allocation Committee (JAAC). I wrote a memo to the Head of Service and after setting up a committee, it was approved. To the glory of God, I have attended the meeting twice and that is a great development in the service.

    “Also, they used to give pensioners peanuts in the area of gratuity. A memo I wrote to the governor in which I demanded N150 million monthly was approved”.

     

  • PTAD pays 177,703 pensioners 33% arrears

    The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has paid  N6.314 billion being six months’ arrears of the 33 per cent pension increment.

    The payment covers 101,393 civil service pensioners on all grade levels and 76, 310 agencies.

    Its Executive Secretary, Sharon Ikeazor in a statement, said pensioners’ welfare is a priority of the President Muhammadu Buhari led administration.

    She stated that PTAD has fully settled the inherited backlog of the 33 per cent pension arrears of the Customs, Immigration and Prisons as well as Police pensioners in 2016 and 2018 respectively.

    The Executive Secretary further assured pensioners that the Directorate is working with its supervisory Ministry of Finance as well as other relevant government agencies to clear the outstanding balance.

    Sequel to this, several pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS), managed by PTAD have clamored for pension increase.

  • PTAD sensitises pensioners against fraudsters

    Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has embarked on sensitisation of pensioners and Next of Kin on the activities of fraudsters who target pensioners to defraud them of their hard earned pensions.

    According to a statement by the Directorate, the fraudstars penetrate pensioners and their next of kin by texting or calling them, soliciting for money to facilitate their pension payments.

    PTAD Executive Secretary, Sharon Ikeazor, stressed that the directorate’s members of staff will never demand for money from any pensioner or next of kin before their pensions are processed and paid.

    She said there are no intermediaries in the pension payments, noting that pensioners are paid directly through Government Integrated Financial and Management Information System (GIFMIS) platform into individual account.

    She advised pensioners to beware of fraudsters, who sometimes posed as PTAD staff to defraud them.

    She said: “The Directorate embarked on the awareness campaigns to proactively protect the pensioners and expose pranks employed by the fraudsters to swindle uninformed pensioners.

    “This is why the Directorate is sensitising the pensioners through SMS, adverts in national newspapers and radio jingle on Radio stations across the six geo political zones of the country.

    “The awareness campaign jingle will also be aired on 18 Radio stations across the 6 geo political zones of the country and FCT,” she added.

  • Ondo pensioners beg for payment of unpaid entitlements

    Pensioners in Ondo state have pleaded with the labour leaders in the state to help them fight for their outstanding entitlements.

    The state NUP chairman, Chief Raphael Adetuwo, said the unpaid entitlements have subjected pensioners to untold hardship in the state.

    Adetuwo hinged their outcry on the recent directive by President Muhammadu Buhari to governors on payment of salaries and pensions.

    He added that old age hazards and poverty are bitter experiences among them.

    The senior citizen disclosed that pensioners are yet to be paid pension and gratuities since 2012, adding that the 33 per cent pension increase has not been approved by the state government since 2014.

    Read Also: Osun victory shows APC is preferred party – Obaseki

    He said”15 percent pension increase paid to state pensioners in 2012 is yet to be paid to the local government pensioners including primary school pensioners

    “Arrears of monthly pension as a result of delay in the payment of monthly pension after retirement are yet to be paid since 2012. Gratuities to state pensioners who served Federal Government between 1972 and 1976 are yet to be paid.”

    The NUP chairman, who accused the state government of shirking away from those financial responsibilities, urged the labour leaders to come to their aid.

  • Ambode urges LASPEC officers on pensioners

    Lagos State Governor Akinwunmi Ambode has challenged officers of the Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC) on effective communication with retirees and pensioners.

    The governor, represented by the Commissioner, Lagos State Ministry of Establishments, Training and Pensions, Dr. Akintola Benson, spoke during the workshop tagged: ‘Top skills for public-facing officers of LASPEC in Lagos.

    He said the training was designed for officers of LASPEC who interact with pensioners, retirees and the public.

    According to him,  the rationale for the training is to ensure that the officers are reminded of the fundamentals of communicating effectively and compassionately to those with whom they interact.

    He said members of the public expect senior public servants to possess general top skills.

    He added that the state recognises the fact that there was need to train the officers to ensure that they cultivate skills that public-facing officers of the LASPEC ought to cultivate.

    The Governor said: “The first skill or trait should be a passionate commitment to the mission of the agency and the service as a whole. Excitement trickles down from leadership to the employees on the ground. When the administrator is enthused about the organisation or agency’s mission, the employees will mirror those feelings. In times of crisis, great administrators remind their staffs of the purpose of their mission and the role their organisation plays in the larger society.

    “The possession of a conceptual skill is also part of the critical skills and traits. As public servants, they must also learn how to pay attention to details. As important as it is for leaders to see the big picture and think strategically, it is equally important for them to pay attention to the details. This does not mean that leaders have to be involved in every minor decision, or undermine the decisions of subordinates; rather, leaders must remain aware of the activities of their staff and the status of projects, allowing autonomy whenever possible,” he added.

  • PenCom warns pensioners, others against graft

    • Lists ethical conduct as gain of pension reform

    The National Pension Commission (PenCom) has cautioned  the public, particularly pensioners and pension contributors, against giving kickbacks or other forms of gratifications to anybody to facilitate payment of retirement benefits, issuance of compliance certificate to vendors and service providers.

    PenCom Acting Director-General, Mrs Aisha Dahir-Umar, who made this call in a statement in Lagos, urged the public to immediately report to the Commission anyone who makes any demand or ask for any form of inducement in whatever disguise.

    According to her, the Commission remained dedicated to safeguarding pensioners, contributors’ rights and payment of retirement benefits as and when due.

    She further disclosed that one of the major achievements of the pension reform is the establishment of robust legal and institutional frameworks for pensions’ administration in Nigeria.

    She said: “One of the major achievements of the pension reform is the establishment of robust legal and institutional frameworks for the administration of pensions in Nigeria. The reform has instituted transparent processes in the operations of PenCom and the Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) in the retirement benefits payment process, enforcement of compliance with the provisions of the Pension Reform Act (PRA) 2014 as well as other operations of the industry.

    “Consequently, the public is hereby invited to note that payment of retirement benefits under the CPS is made by the PFAs strictly from the Retirement Savings Accounts (RSA) of pension contributors. The RSA has three basic components, namely, the monthly pension contributions; the returns on investment earned for the contributors by the PFAs and the retirement benefits that accrued under the defunct Defined Benefits Scheme.

    “Section 7 of the Pension Reform Act 2014 and the Regulations on the Administration of Retirement & Terminal Benefits demand that the three components of the retirement benefit must be consolidated in the RSA before any payment is made by the PFA. Accordingly, payments of retirement benefits are made promptly into the bank accounts of the retirees except for cases where the employer delays in the release of funds to pay the accrued rights component of the retiree’s benefits.”

    She stressed that in the performance of its statutory mandate, the Commission issues compliance certificate to organisations wishing to bid for contracts with Federal Government institutions, pursuant to the requirement of the Public Procurement Act 2007.

    “Furthermore, as it is the case with all institutions, the Commission engages vendors and services providers from time to time. In addition to the legal safeguards and institutional checks and balances of the CPS, the Commission, as the regulator of all pension matters in Nigeria, has entrenched good corporate governance practices, high ethical standards and zero tolerance to any form of malpractice in the conduct of its staff and the PFAs that manage the pension assets. In this regard, the Management and staff of the Commission do not receive money or other forms of gratification to facilitate payment of retirement benefits, issuance of Compliance Certificates and engagement of vendors and service providers.

    “The Commission does not also give or accept kickbacks to or from any individual or organisation in the discharge its responsibilities. The members of the public, particularly pensioners and pension contributors are, therefore, reminded that no financial or other form of inducement should be given to anybody to facilitate payment of retirement benefits, issuance of compliance certificate or engagement as vendor or service provider.

    “Indeed, members of the public are earnestly requested to immediately report to the Commission, anyone who makes any demand for any form of inducement in whatever form or disguise. The Commission remains totally dedicated to the safeguard of your rights and payment of your retirement benefits as and when due,” she added.

     

  • Fayose meets pensioners, seeks support for Olusola

    Ekiti State Governor Ayo Fayose on Monday held a meeting with pensioners, urging them to support the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) candidate, Prof. Kolapo Olusola.

    Fayose and the retirees under the auspicies of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) at the parley held at the Kolapo Olusola Campaign Office in Fajuyi area of Ado-Ekiti discussed the welfare of members.

    The governor disclosed that his administration had saved another N250 million with the Ekiti State Pension Commission.

    He directed that the cash be disbursed to defray part of the eight month arrears owed the retirees before Friday, July 13.

    Fayose thanked the senior citizens for the privilege given him to serve as the chief executive for the second time, urging them to vote Olusola on Saturday.

    He said a vote for Olusola would help consolidate on the achievements of his administration, adding that his preferred successor would accord priority to their welfare.

    The governor said the financial challenges facing his administration was responsible for inability to pay their entitlements as and when due. He assured the retirees a better deal when as soon as the financial situation of the state improves.

    Some of the retirees expressed regret that their monthly pensions have become irregular.

    They commended Fayose for the promise to commence payment on Friday, which they noted would bring relief to them.

  • Pay our entitlements, pensioners beg Fed Govt

    THE Association of Federal Contributory Scheme Pensioners in Oyo State yesterday appealed to the Federal Government to promptly pay the full entitlements of members so as to ameliorate their sufferings.

    The association’s president, Mr. Matthew Shittu, made the plea in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Ibadan.

    Shittu said retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) were being short-changed as a result of the non-payment of their full entitlements.

    He said the Federal Government still owed pensioners, who joined the CPS at inception, accrued interests on their initial entitlements as at July 2004.

    Shittu added that this was deposited with the CBN as bonds.

    “We demand from the Federal Government the payment of our accrued interest on our money bonded with the CBN since 2004, when the Federal Government retired us.

    “They only pay our accrued rights and the money we contributed to the PFA, leaving outstanding the accrued interest,” he said.

    Shittu demanded the calculation and payment of all accrued interests for pensioners as at July 2004 at the government’s official interest rate.

    The association’s president said that the seeming silence of the National Pension Commission (PenCom) on the accrued interests payable to retirees under the new scheme was a cause of concern to his members.

    He called on the Federal Government to direct the commission, CBN, Account-General of Federation and other relevant agencies, which are custodians of contributory pensions to calculate and pay the outstanding interest of pensioners’ bond without delay.

    Shittu also called for the payment of the retirement benefits of pensioners who retired since January 2017.

  • Pensioners accuse PFAs of sharp practices

    Federal Government retirees have accused Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) of sabotaging the 2004 Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).

    They also took a swipe at the PFAs who are the custodians of the pensions contributed by civil servants before retirement, for flouting the directives of the National Pension Commission (PenCom), the regulatory body set up by government to supervise PFAs.

    The 2004 pension scheme is a fall-out of a major reform of the nation’s old pension system (Defined Benefit Scheme) that had sent hundreds of retired workers to their untimely graves because of unpaid years of backlog of gratuities and pensions.

    To put an end to needless deaths of pensioners, particularly those in the queue to collect their benefits after serving their fatherland for 35 years, the Federal Government introduced the CPS.

    Under the scheme, the government deducts 7.5 per cent from workers’ salaries monthly and remits to the PFAs directly, while it contributes 7.5 per cent which it remits in arrears after workers’ retirement in form of “intervention’’.

    For instance, the President Muhammadu Buhari administration had in April 2017, released about N54 billion to PenCom to transfer to PFAs to settle arrears of gratuities and pensions for retirees of 2014, 2015, 2016 and 2017 and subsequently, monthly releases of some millions.