FG owes pensioners 14 months arrears, soon to pay 2 months debts to retirees
- The federal government has resolved to pay retirees who were disengaged between January 2017 and February 2018 under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS)
- Peter Aghahowa, the head of corporate communication, Pension Commission (PenCom) said that the payment have been concluded, but that the body is still waiting for the release of the fund from the Ministry of Finance
- Aghahowa said that the commission would pay the retirees as soon as the federal government releases the money
The presidency has said that it is making plans to pay pensioners who retired in January and February 2017 under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).
Leadership reported that federal government retirees, especially those who retired from January 2017 till February 2018, are yet to get any pension entitlement, as the federal government now owes 14 months unpaid pension.
Yet, reports showed that the payment for the two months has been concluded, but the National Pension Commission (PenCom) is awaiting the release of the fund from the Federal Ministry of Finance before it commences the payment of the concerned retirees.
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This therefore means that the government still owes 12 months’ pension arrears to pensioners under the CPS. Meanwhile, those who retired from March 2017 till presently would have to wait longer to receive their pension arrears.
Peter Aghahowa, the head of corporate communication, PenCom, confirmed the development. Aghahowa affirmed that some 2017 retirees had not been paid, stating that the federal government has, however, released money for pension payment to retirees up to February 2017. He noted that they are yet to release money for retirees who retired from March 2017 till date.
Aghahowa said that the commission would pay the retirees as soon as the federal government releases the fund.
According to reports gather, Hassana Shekarau, the chairman, House committee on pension, said that the federal government has released N54 billion to National Pension Commission (PenCom)offset 33 per cent pension arrears to pensioners.
Shekarau revealed this at the inauguration of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners House in Abuja, recently. He remarked that presidecy had set up a presidential committee to reconcile the pension figures and that the job had been concluded.
He further said that the president also sent a bill seeking a loan to the National Assembly, which had been approved, part of which was to pay pensioners’ arrears.
Shekarau stated: “We don’t know what is delaying it that is why I took it upon myself to make sure that I charge the chief executives, who are handing pension matters that within two weeks they should report back to me on it.
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“Any of them that delay I assure pensioners that we will still move another motion to ensure it payment. I have engaged stakeholders to make sure that the needful is done. I am happy to tell you that some progress have been made on the challenges of the 33 per cent arrears.
“I have given the relevant stakeholders on pension two weeks to sit and resolve matters on the pending issues of the payment of 33 percent pension arrears since the money had been disbursed.”
Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that officials of the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) had traced about £6 million pension funds to a United Kingdom bank account under the name of the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF).
Legit.ng gathered that the money was suspected to have been tampered with by some government officials but the two former heads of the civil service of the federation (Engineer Okeke and Professor. O. A. Afolabi) reportedly did their best to protect the funds from being looted.
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Source: Legit.ng
