The Pension Reform Task Team on Tuesday said past pension
administrators siphoned about N4bn monthly from the national treasury.
administrators siphoned about N4bn monthly from the national treasury.
It also claimed that 38,000 pensioners had received their
accrued harmonised arrears just as another 50,000, who retired since 1968 had
received their entitlements.
accrued harmonised arrears just as another 50,000, who retired since 1968 had
received their entitlements.
The PRTT spokesperson, Mr. Hassan Salihu, who said this in
an interview with our correspondent in Abuja, claimed that the team, which came
into being in 2010, “inherited massive non-payment of pensioners from the
former pension administrators, who were siphoning an average of about N4bn
monthly”.
an interview with our correspondent in Abuja, claimed that the team, which came
into being in 2010, “inherited massive non-payment of pensioners from the
former pension administrators, who were siphoning an average of about N4bn
monthly”.
He said, “The PRTT has so far paid over 38,000 genuine
pensioners their accrued harmonised arrears, which is the first in the history
of governance in Nigeria that all pensioners are being paid. Also over 50,000
pensioners who were hitherto denied pensions since retirement as far back as
1968 have been pay rolled by the PRTT and since been paid their accrued arrears
and are now collecting their monthly pensions.”
pensioners their accrued harmonised arrears, which is the first in the history
of governance in Nigeria that all pensioners are being paid. Also over 50,000
pensioners who were hitherto denied pensions since retirement as far back as
1968 have been pay rolled by the PRTT and since been paid their accrued arrears
and are now collecting their monthly pensions.”
According to him, the siphoning of N4bn monthly by
previous pension administrators has resulted in a situation where federal civil
service pensioners are deprived of their pensions.
previous pension administrators has resulted in a situation where federal civil
service pensioners are deprived of their pensions.
Salihu said, “That was the main reason for the large
number of complaints that PRTT has been confronted with. Thus, since PRTT came
in June 2010, there has been payment of regular monthly pension promptly;
except for November and December 2012 that the HoS Pension Office hijacked the
preparation of the monthly pension. Hence, 95 per cent of pensioners have been
grossly omitted and grossly underpaid.”
number of complaints that PRTT has been confronted with. Thus, since PRTT came
in June 2010, there has been payment of regular monthly pension promptly;
except for November and December 2012 that the HoS Pension Office hijacked the
preparation of the monthly pension. Hence, 95 per cent of pensioners have been
grossly omitted and grossly underpaid.”
The PRTT spokesman, who said the team had been receiving
complaints from pensioners, noted however that the unit was addressing their
cases.
complaints from pensioners, noted however that the unit was addressing their
cases.
Salihu said, “PRTT has compiled so far a list over 1,600
pensioners’ arrears for payment before the end of January, 2013. At anytime,
PRTT has a complaint, it treats on merit and pensioners are instantly paid.”
pensioners’ arrears for payment before the end of January, 2013. At anytime,
PRTT has a complaint, it treats on merit and pensioners are instantly paid.”
On the task team’s modus operandi, he stated that it uses
its Electronic Pension Management system to settle all its transactions to
pensioners.
its Electronic Pension Management system to settle all its transactions to
pensioners.
Salihu said, “The bank statement of a pensioner covering
the period of complaints will be accessed by the complaints Unit. From there,
the Computation Unit takes over and calculates all entitlements and it is then
sent to the Audit Unit and from there to ICT Unit for input into EPMS platform
and finally to the Head of Service of the Federation for approval of payment by
various banks.”
the period of complaints will be accessed by the complaints Unit. From there,
the Computation Unit takes over and calculates all entitlements and it is then
sent to the Audit Unit and from there to ICT Unit for input into EPMS platform
and finally to the Head of Service of the Federation for approval of payment by
various banks.”
Asked the number of pensioners that have yet to be paid,
he said, “It is not possible to state the exact number because it is a continuous
job”.
he said, “It is not possible to state the exact number because it is a continuous
job”.
Source: Punch
