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Tag: retirement

  • Furore over retirement of senior officers

    Furore over retirement of senior officers

    The frosty relationship between Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala and the Comptroller General of Customs, Dikko Inde Abdullahi, may have worsened following disagreements over the sacking of three Assistant Comptroller Generals of Customs.

    While Okonjo-Iweala is said to be pushing for a recall of the retired Assistant Comptroller Generals—Dr. Olusegun Agbaje, M. Jamo and E. O. Offem, following petitions written by two of them to the National Security Adviser and the minister, Abdullahi is insisting that the retirement of the officers followed due process as approved by the Board chaired by Okonjo-Iweala.

    Our correspondent gathered that a stormy session of the Board has been fixed for today with the sole agenda of determining the fate of the retired officers who claimed in the petition that they were unjustly retired to pave the way for Abdullahi’s preferred successor.

    On receipt of the petition, Okonjo-Iweala, in a memo dated June 30th, demanded explanations from Abdullahi, noting: “there are several of these complaints, please let me know what is going on.”

    Copies of the petitions obtained by our correspondent indicated that Agbaje, while claiming to have been issued a retirement letter without the approval of the Board, said he was unjustly retired on the pretext that he was not medically fit.

    Offem, in a petition addressed to the NSA, Alhaji Sambo Dasuki, noted that Abdullahi “actually planned to retire us to clear way for his choice of officers whom he wants to handover the service to for obvious reasons.”

    There no evidence that the third person, Jamo, wrote any petition to contest his retirement.

    In his response to questions raised in the petitions, Abdullahi, in a memo titled “Appeal for rescue from continued persecution and illegal retirement” dated July 8 and addressed to Okonjo-Iweala, dismissed the allegations of victimisation levelled against him.

    He noted that the retirement followed due process contrary to claims made by the petitioners, arguing any attempt to recall the officers “will warrant recall to service of all previously retired officers.”

    He wrote: “In the petition by Dr. David Olusegun Agbaje, the officer alleged that he was being illegally retired from the Service contrary to the decision of the Customs Board. The Coordinating Minister may wish to recall that Dr. Agbaje was presented along with others to the Medical Board in line with the provisions of Section 070312 and 070317 of the Public Service Rules (PSR) which empowers the Chief Executive of an organisation to set up a Medical Board to ascertain the mental and physical fitness of his staff.

    “At the end of its sitting (16th – 18th July and 3rd – 4th September, 2012), the medical Board found out that Dr. David Olusegun Agbaje has one eye (Right) with normal function while the left eye is ARTIFICIAL. He was found UNFIT to continue to serve in a paramilitary Organisation.

    “It may be noted that in a similar exercise in March 2011, other officers found with visual challenges were also recommended to the management for retirement. The Management which included Dr. Agbaje approved the recommendation of the Medical Board and the affected officers have all been retired by the Customs Board.

    “The Coordinating Minister may also wish to note that the petition and other previous ones forwarded to her office were not routed through the Comptroller-General in contravention of extant public Regulations. This constitutes an act of gross misconduct and insubordination.

    “It is also pertinent to note that precedence has been established in the handling of similar cases and any contrary action in favour of Dr. Agbaje will warrant recall to service of all previously retired officers.

    “In view of the above, the Coordinating Minister is invited to disregard the petition as it lacks substance.”

    However, the minister was said to have been unsatisfied with the explanations given by Abdullahi on the retirement and had suggested a probable recall of the officers.

    It was gathered that only the Board has the power to recall the officers at a properly constituted meeting attended by two-thirds of the members.

    While Okonjo-Iweala is the Chairman of the Board, Abdullahi is the Deputy Chairman and the two are yet to shift their positions at last night.

    A source told our correspondent that there may be more to the face-off than the retirement of the officers as Okonjo-Iweala and Abdullahi have been having problems over administrative and operational issues concerning the Customs Service.

    Today’s board meeting is scheduled for the Boardroom of the Customs Service Office in Abuja.

  • Fashola inaugurates COWLSO’s retirement villa

    A RETIREMENT resort built by the Committee of Wives of Lagos State Officials (COWLSO) for retired public servants was inaugurated yesterday in Lagos by Governor Babatunde Fashola.

    Fashola said only the spirit of continuity in the public service could guarantee national development.

    The governor’s audience at the opening of the first-ever retirees’ resort at Lekki, Lagos Island, included: Alhaja Abimbola Jakande, wife of former Governor Lateef Jakande; Senator Oluremi Tinubu (Lagos Central District) and a representative of Mrs. Obafunmilayo Johnson, among others.

    According to Fashola, many laudable projects had gone moribund across the country because of lack of continuity.

    He said rather than complete on-going projects, successors often prefer to initiate their own pet projects.

    Fashola singled out the Centre of Excellence as a state that respects the culture of continuity.

    He said: “These ideas are fundamental; they are important because in our lifetime, we have witnessed instances where projects were abandoned by successors only because they did not start them. We have witnessed instances where the acquisition of land, as in this case, ended up in court.”

    Noting that the event being celebrated was the dedication of a building, Fashola said the underlying issue was an idea that gave birth to the edifice.

    He said: “Although we have come to dedicate and commemorate a building, I think what we have come to dedicate and commemorate today actually is a greater cause – the idea that gave birth to this building, an idea that was resting in the heart and in the mind of the very First Lady that Lagos had when it became a state, Mrs. Johnson.

    “That idea is now represented by the word COWLSO and that is why we all have gathered here to celebrate.”

    He hailed Senator Tinubu for reviving and following up on the idea 40 years after.

    Fashola said: “Of course, it is the same cause, the same idea to continue with what somebody has started, to suppress ego, control vision and run with good ideas, irrespective of where they originate, from that has enabled your current chairperson to run with an idea she did not start and deliver it to fruition.

    “Clearly, continuity of ideas and projects has become a way of life in our state and our citizens are better for it. Therefore, we must salute the women of Lagos.

    “So, while this building will age, while it will need to be maintained, while another first lady will come and say I want a 20-storey retirement villa, the underlying idea that gave birth to this will never fade.”

    Mrs. Johnson, who is COWLSO’s Grand Matron, expressed joy that the Committee has grown by leaps and bounds.

    She said: “Since 2004, COWLSO has come of age in looking after children. Your caring hearts have been demonstrated in the many projects you have done for the young people of Lagos. You have been a fortress and tower of strength for women.”

    Senator Tinubu said the vision to build the Villa originated from her love for old people and the thought to find a relaxation centre for them.

    Thanking the governor’s wife, Dame Emmanuella Fashola, for bringing the vision to fruition, Senator Tinubu expressed joy that the idea conceived many years ago was not abandoned but implemented beyond her vision and expectation.

    Dame Fashola said the project “was conceived and executed to provide a venue for our active citizens, who have contributed to the development of our country and particularly Lagos State, to engage in healthy recreational activities in a conducive environment.”

    She paid glowing tributes to individuals and corporate organisations, who contributed to making the Villa a reality.

    The highlight of the event was the planting of 50 trees donated by COWLSO by the governor, the first and former first ladies, wife of the House of Assembly speaker Mrs. Mayowa Ikuforiji; State Chairman of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) , Chief Henry Ajomale and his wife, Adetoun .

    At the occasion were: House of Representatives’ member Yakub Balogun and representative of the wive of the Ogun State governor and members of the State Executive Council, among others.

  • Anxiety over planned retirement of Immigration chiefs

    Palpable fear and tension have gripped the top hierarchy of the Nigerian Immigration Services (NIS) on plans to retire some Deputy Comptroller Generals (DCGs), who should have been elevated.

    According to laid- down civil service regulations, a level 15-17 officer must have spent at least four years as Assistant Comptroller before he can qualify as a Deputy Comptroller.

    In an interview last week by the Civil Defence, Fire, Immigration and Prison Board, eight of the 24 shorlisted Deputy Comptrollers are said to be qualified for the position, while 18 are not qualified since they have spent only more than one year in their current positions.

    Of the lot, the two most senior are due to retire in July and September, which should clear the coast for any of the other most senior officers to be appointed.

    Part of the conditions for promotion is seniority and merit, conditions which had previously been abused.

    In March, two most Senior Deputy Comptrollers were nominated to act as DG in contravention of the Federal Character Commission regulation.

    The retirement of the former Comptroller Rose Uzouma has led to a long drawn battle of succession.

    Of the 36 state commands, five comptrollers are said to be from Benue State. Seven vacancies exist in

    the position under dispute with even those not qualified pulling political strings to get the position.

    According to the provisions of the board’s scheme of service, for candidates to be eligible for promotion to the post of Deputy Comptroller, they must have spent four years in the post of Assistant Comptroller- General.

  • PENCOM sanctions 1000 firms for failing to open retirement accounts

    The National Pension Commission (PenCom) has sanctioned about 1,105 organisations for failing to open Retirement Savings Account (RSA) for their employees.

    The Commission, according to a report, issued caution letters to 487 firms for failing to comply with the provisions of the law.

    In addition, it also imposed penalties on 618 erring firms during the period under review.

    PenCom said it had been following up the firms to ensure that the organisations complied with the Act.

    The Pension Operators Association of Nigeria (Penop) said recovery agents were appointed by PenCom to go after companies and organisations registered under the Contributory Pension Scheme, which had failed to remit employees’ contributions to their various Pension Fund Administrators.

    Its Chairman, Mr Dave Uduanu, said recovery agents have visited about 5,584 firms out of 15,750 firms identified as non-compliant with the law, and have so far made recoveries from 105 of these firms. He said PenCom had recently released an exposure draft of the framework for the participation of persons operating in the informal sector in the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).

    “Recovery Agents appointed by PenCom to go after companies and organisations that have failed to remit employee contributions to Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) have achieved a lot of progress in recovery of outstanding contributions and interest penalties from defaulting employers.

    “The Recovery Agents have visited over 5,584 firms out of 15,750 firms identified as non-compliant with the law and the amounts so far recovered are from 105 of these firms”.

    On efforts so far made by PENCOM to bring in the informal sector into contributory pension scheme structure, Uduanu said the draft guidelines was exposed to operators for comments and was currently being finalised.

    Several additional incentives, he added, were being proposed to make the scheme more beneficial to persons working in the informal sector, who account for over 60 per cent of the working population in the country.

    The chairman said that the framework once released, would ensure the participation of persons working in the informal sector and effectively increase the coverage of the CPS.

    Uduanu also said PenCom would soon incorporate a multi-fund structure for RSA funds into the newly amended investment guidelines.

    He said PenCom had exposed the proposed multi-fund structure to operators for comments and review as far back as March last year.

    The decision to introduce the multi-fund structure, he noted, was to allow enough time for public education and sensitisation by the commission and also to allow operators enough time to be ready to implement the structure.

    Uduanu said: “The multi-fund will be primarily differentiated by its overall exposure to variable income instruments and a contributor’s choice of funds may be limited based on the age of the contributor.

    “Also, the multi-fund structure will also likely allow for the introduction of non-interest or ethical funds.”

     

  • Jonathan approves Justice Archibong’s retirement

    Jonathan approves Justice Archibong’s retirement

    President Goodluck Jonathan, has approved the compulsory retirement of Hon. Justice Charles Efanga Archibong of the Federal High Court, Lagos, with immediate effect.

    The approval is sequel to the recommendation of the National Judicial Council (NJC) at its Emergency Meeting held on Wednesday in Abuja.

    The Council is chaired by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN) Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar.

    A statement by the Acting Director (Information), Soji Oye, said the President has also approved the extension of the appointment of the Acting President of the Court of Appeal, Hon. Justice Zainab Adamu Bulkachuwa.

    The approval was sequel to the recommendation by the NJC, pursuant to the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended.

    The Council in a statement said “Hon. Justice Archibong was recommended for compulsory retirement to President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR pursuant to the ‘Findings” by the Council on the following Complaints levelled against him:-

    *That the Judge dismissed the grievous charges against an accused without taking his plea;

    *That he refused to release the Certified True Copy of his Ruling to the Lawyers;

    *That the Judge issued a bench warrant on some officials of Peoples Democratic Party for contempt even when the counsel who was directed by the Court to serve them filed an affidavit that he had not been able to serve the contempt application;

    *That he made unfounded and caustic remarks on professional competence of some Senior Advocates of Nigeria;

    *That there were glaring procedural irregularities which showed that Hon. Justice Archibong did not have a full grasp of the Law and procedure of the Court; and

    *That he granted the leave sought for in the originating summons that had no written address of the parties and without hearing both parties in the originating summons after he had earlier on overruled the preliminary objection”, the statement added.

     

     

  • NJC recomends retirement of Justices Naron, Archibong

    NJC recomends retirement of Justices Naron, Archibong

    –Places Talba under investigation
     The National Judicial Council (NJC) has recommended the compulsory retirement of Hon. Justice C. E. Archibong of the Federal High Court Lagos and Hon. Justice T.D. Naron of Plateau State High Court.
    The NJC, chaired by the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), Justice Aloma Mariam Mukhtar, took the decision at its Emergency Meeting held on Wednesday in Abuja.
    The two Judges have been placed on suspension, the council said in a statement issued in Abuja on Thursday by its Acting Director (Information), Mr. Soji Oye in line with its disciplinary powers under the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
    The council has also “set up a ‘Fact Finding’ Committee to investigate the allegations leveled against Hon. Justice Abubakar Talba of FCT High Court in the Police Pension case of EFCC vs Mr. John Yusuf & Ors.”.
    Justice Talba sentenced Yusufu to two-year jail after pleading guilty to three count charge in the N32.8 billion police pension fraud. The jail term is to run concurrently.
    The Judge, however, gave the convict an option of N250,000 fine for each of the three counts. The sentence sparked negative criticisms of the Judge through out the nation.
    Justice Naron chaired the first Osun State Elelction Petition Tribunal which affirmed the victory of  former Osun Governor, Olagunsoye Oyinlola in the petition of the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN) and its candidate, Governor Rauf Aregbesola.
    The Court of Appeal, Ibadan, later declared sacked Oyinlola and  declared Aregbesola as the winner of the May 2007 election.
    Following a petition by a counsel to Aregbesola, that the tribunal headed by Justice T.D. Naron was embroiled in call logs controversy with the lead counsel to Oyinlola, Kunle Kalejaiye (SAN), the NJC had raised a team to investigate the allegation.
    Despite Bashiru’s request for the tribunal members to disqualify themselves from the trial, the judges went ahead to deliver judgment on the case on July 15, 2008.
    The Council also received another petition against the judges on February 4, 2011 from Aregbesola’s lawyer, Mr. Ajibola Basiru.

    The NJC said “Justice T. D. Naron of High Court of Justice, Plateau State was recommended for compulsory retirement to Governor David Jonah Jang sequel to the ‘Findings’ by the Council that there were constant and regular voice calls and exchange of mms and sms(text) messages between Hon. Justice Naron and one of the Lead Counsel for one of the parties to the Suit in the Osun State Gubernatorial Election Tribunal contrary to the Code of Conduct for Judicial Officers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria vide Section 292(1((b) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.”

    The statement  added: “Hon. Justice Archibong was recommended for compulsory retirement to President Goodluck Ebele Jonathan, GCFR pursuant to the ‘Findings” by the Council on the following Complaints leveled against him:-
    *That the Judge dismissed the grievous charges against an accused without taking his plea;
    *That he refused to release the Certified True Copy of his Ruling to the Lawyers;
    *That the Judge issued a bench warrant on some officials of Peoples Democratic Party for contempt even when the counsel who was directed by the Court to serve them filed an affidavit that he had not been able to serve the contempt application;
    *That he made unfounded and caustic remarks on professional competence of some Senior Advocates of Nigeria;
    *That there were glaring procedural irregularities which showed that Hon. Justice Archibong did not have a full grasp of the Law and procedure of the Court; and
    *That he granted the leave sought for in the originating summons that had no written address of the parties and without hearing both parties in the originating summons after he had earlier on overruled the preliminary objection.”

     

  • PenCom, PenOp set to tackle unclaimed retirement benefits

    PenCom, PenOp set to tackle unclaimed retirement benefits

    THE National Pension Commission (PenCom) and the Pension Fund Operators (PenOp) are to address the problems of unclaimed retirement benefits of retirees.

    PenOp’s President, Dave Udeanu, said some retirees have refused to collect their benefits from their Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs), adding that the development has made operators to intensify efforts at locating them and their families without success.

    He said operators would continue to educate the public, adding that the challenge cannot be tackled overnight.

    Worried by this development, PenCom has directed PFAs to advertise the names of the affected retireees in the national dailies. Dauda Ahmed of Corporate Strategy Unit, PenCom, who make this known, said the PFAs have also been directed to visit the last place of employment or address of the retirees to obtain any available contact information or those of their next-of kin in an effort to trace them and ensure that outstanding benefits are processed for payment.

    He said: “In effect, we wish to confirm that there are no “unclaimed pensions” with PFAs in the real sense of it, but possible issues of temporary delay in processing the withdrawal of pensions/terminal benefits due mainly to loss of contact.

    “The balance in the Retirement Savings Account (RSA) of a retiree comprises the proceeds of his retirement bond, his contributions from July, 2004 to the month of retirement and the investment income. At the point of retirement, the retiree is expected to submit necessary documents to, and discuss with the PFA on his preferred mode of withdrawal of his pensions. The retiree has the option of either Programmed Withdrawal (PW) which provides pension over the expected lifespan through the PFA or purchase of annuity from an Insurance Company which ensures payment of pension for life.

    According to him, these payments can only be made after the Commission had granted approval of the agreement entered into by the retiree with his Pension Fund Administrator (PFA) regarding the mode of withdrawal of his benefit.

    “Nevertheless, there could be delays by retirees or next of kin in the case of death benefits in accessing retirement or terminal benefits, but not “unclaimed pensions,” he said, adding that such delays can be attributed mainly to the inability of the PFA to contact the retiree who may have retired to his village without leaving an active contact address with the PFA.

    He urged the public to always liaise with pension operators to sort out issues, adding that the new pension scheme is poised to provide comfortable life style for retirees.

    Meanwhile, operators in the pension industry have said they would leverage on the integration of businesses in the informal sector to increase the number of contributors from 5.2 million currently to about 20 million by 2017.

    Udeanu, who disclosed this at a media parley in Lagos, said several additional incentives are being proposed to make the pension scheme more beneficial to persons working in the informal sector, who accounts for over 60 per cent of the working population in the country.

    He noted that the PenCom has released an exposure draft of the framework for the participation of persons operating in the informal sector, stressing that the draft is currently being finalised.

    He said the framework once released would ensure the participation of persons working in the informal sector and effectively increase the coverage of the scheme.

    Udeanu said PenCom will also before the end of the first quarter of this year, incorporate a multi-fund structure for Retirement Saving Accounts (RSA) funds, into the amended investment guidelines.

    He said: “The decision to introduce the multi-fund structure in the first quarter 2013, is to allow enough time for public education and sensitisation by the commission and also allow operators enough time to be ready to implement the structure.

    “The multi-fund would be primarily differentiated by their overall exposure to variable income instruments and a contributor’s choice of funds may be limited based on the age of the contributor. Also the multi-fund structure would likely also allow for the introduction of a non – interest or ethical fund.”

    Managing Director ARM Pension Managers Limited, Sadiq Mohammed, on pension contributory recovery agents, said the agents have visited about 8,584 firms out of 15,760 identified as non-compliant by not remitting their workers’ contributory retirement funds to the appropriate quarters, adding that over N2.5 billion is expected to be recovered from the identified defaulters.

    He said demand notices and accounts details of pension custodians for remitting deducted pensions have been sent to the firms visited.

  • Enugu teachers decry early retirement

    Enugu teachers decry early retirement

    THE Nigeria Union of Teachers (NUT), Enugu State Wing, has expressed strong dismay over what it described as mass premature retirement of teachers in the state.

    Chairman of NUT in the state, Comrade Chumaife Nze, made the stand of the teachers on the issue known yesterday during the 2012 World Teachers’ Day Celebration held at Okpara Square, Enugu.

    Nze said they felt that the retirement was not only improper but heart breaking. He urged the Enugu state Universal Basic Education to recall without delay those teachers affected by that “obnoxious policy and to put a stop to it.”

    On the 27.5percent Teachers Special Allowance, the NUT boss in the state recalled that for three years now, the union has been requesting for the payment of the remaining 17.5percent of allowance.

    He expressed regrets that the NUT in the state had written several letters/memos requesting for the payment of the remaining percentage but all to no avail.

    Nze, however, said he was confident that the state government would make a positive response to their request , adding that the total amount involved was not compared to what the state government had been doing to keep the masses happy.

    While appreciating government’s effort in recruitment of teachers particularly in the secondary schools, he noted that there was still great dearth of teachers in our schools.

    Governor Sullivan Chime, who was represented by the Commissioner of Education, Dr Simon Otuanya, had commended the teachers over their contributions towards the growth of the society.

    He promised to provide toilet facilities in public schools in the state, including primary and secondary schools.

     

  • NASU welcomes new retirement age

    Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) has praised President Goodluck Jonathan for signing into law the Act that raised the retirement age of non-academic staff of universities, polytechnics and colleges of education at 65 years.

    The union’s National President, Comrade Ladi Iliya, who spoke at the union’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Asaba, Delta State, called on the government to make the same applicable to staff of research institutes and colleges of agriculture; in line with the agreement it reached with the Joint Research and Allied Institutions Sector Unions in 2009/2010.

    He urged the government to set in motion the necessary machinery to commence negotiation of all the 2009/2010 Collective Agreement signed with the universities, polytechnics, colleges of education and teaching hospitals unions, as enshrined in the agreements.

    NASU said the government must bear in mind that it is these collective agreements that have brought peace to the educational sector. He, however, observed that once in a while, the peace is broken as a result of government’s non implementation of the agreements.

    Agreeing with government on suspension of the N5000 note, Mrs Iliya stated that the policy would only aggravate the situation of the impoverished masses, adding that what it would cost to print the notes is enough to address sensitive sectors of the economy.

    “The policy will only achieve one thing. It would make stealing easier. It is not my intention to talk about everything that touches us as workers in order not to heat up the polity, Mrs Iliya, said.