Gov. Mai Mala Buni of Yobe has approved the payment of N619.5 million for local government pensions and gratuities.

Buni, in a statement by his Director-General Press and Media Affairs Alhaji Mamman Mohammed in Damaturu, said the payment was for batch 45.

He said N449.6 million of the amount would be paid to 274 retirees, while N169.9 was for the next-of-kin of 93 deceased civil servants.

Meanwhile, the governor has also approved the placement of 102 allied healthcare students on a Grade Level 05 in the state’s civil service.

Buni listed the beneficiaries to include students studying physiotherapy, pharmacy, radiography, nursing and medical laboratory sciences in various universities across the country.

(NAN)

By Matthew Eloyi

The Senate has passed for second reading, the Pension Reform Act 2014 (Amendment) Bill, 2022, which seeks to make funds in the Retirement Savings Account under the Contributory Pension Scheme more easily accessible to retirees.

The bill was sponsored by Senator Aliyu Wamakko (APC/Sokoto-North).

Leading the debate on the general principles of the bill, Wamakko said the proposed amendments to the Pension Reform Act 2014 were to provide for a definite and reasonable percentage a retiree can withdraw from their retirement savings accounts.

According to him, the proposals of the bill seek to also provide succour to retirees in the delay and other difficulties they stumble upon in withdrawing their savings from their RSA.

The lawmaker, a former governor of Sokoto State, decried the inability of pensioners to access their benefits after service, which he said had resulted in their suffering and, in most cases, led to eventual and untimely deaths.

In his words, “None of us can claim ignorance of the long-drawn-out anguish of retirees from the civil service, Nigerian Prison Service, universities and parastatals, among other federal agencies in this country.

“These retirees, rather than enjoy retirement after selflessly serving their fatherland, have continued to live in misery and pain, leading to diseases and even death, as they cannot easily access their benefits.”

The lawmaker explained that the Pension Reform Act 2004, amended as Pension Reform Act 2014, provides for a departure from the old pension scheme of ‘Defined Benefits’ to the new Contributory Pension Scheme that established the National Pension Commission.

Wamakko also noted that despite the amendments to the Pension Act, the legislation had failed to achieve its objective of solving the intractable pension crisis in the country.

The lawmaker added, “Suffice to say that the issue of pension Nigeria has more or less turned into a monster that has defied all efforts by successive governments to contain it.

“In view of the retirees’ protracted sufferings and pains, who are equally Nigerians, continued search for a lasting panacea is a duty-bound upon us and all others concerned.”

Wamakko explained that the Act in Section 7(1)(a) was amended in the bill to allow retirees to withdraw 75 per cent of their benefits.

He lamented the situation where pension administrators in the country benefit at the expense of Nigerian pensioners who continue to suffer neglect.

The lawmaker said, “These Nigerians who have retired from service after several years serving the nation are finding it extremely difficult to be the owners of their pension savings in this new arrangement.

“So, unless that law is made categorically clear that they can withdraw the 75 per cent, which we are proposing in this amendment, then they can definitely have some relief as retirees.”

The Senate President, Ahmad Lawan, referred the bill to the Committee on Establishment and Public Service Matters after scaling the second reading.

The committee was given four weeks to report back to the Senate.

By Matthew Eloyi

The Military Pensions Board (MPB) has begun paying over 90,000 qualified military pensioners across the country their 24 month arrears of minimum wage increment.

The payment began on Thursday, according to the Chairman of the Board, Rear Adm. Saburi Lawal, who stated this while briefing journalists on Friday in Abuja.

Lawal stated that the board had started paying individual pensioners 25% of the outstanding amount, and that the payment will be made in four quarterly payments.

The chairman stated that the first 25% will be paid in February, the second in April, the third in July, and the fourth and final payment in October.

He further stated that the Next-of-Kin (NOKs) of deceased pensioners who were still living in April 2019, when President Muhammadu Bihari approved the consequential adjustment, had been paid.

According to him, all pensioners who died between April 2019 and April 2021 were likewise eligible for the arrears, and their NOKs were paid in full.

In his words, “MPB wishes to inform our esteem retirees and pensioners that the board started paying 25 per cent of the arrears of minimum wage increments to eligible military retirees on MPB payroll yesterday Feb. 3, 2022.

“This payment is the first out of four installment payments that will be made to all pensioners entitled to the arrears of minimum wage increment on pensions.

“Our esteemed pensioners should please note that this installment payment arrangement is the outcome of the discussions and agreement reached between the Board and the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning.”

According to him, it is for quarterly releases of the appropriated sum in the first month of each quarter.

“Thus, all things being equal, subsequent payments of the outstanding arrears will be in the months of April, July and October.

“Additionally, I will like to further inform that all Next of Kins (NOKs) of deceased military pensioners who are eligible for same arrears would be paid the minimum wage increments together with the shortfall of the death benefits earlier paid to them.

“Accordingly, Next of Kins of deceased military pensioners who died between April 2019 and April 2021 are advised to contact their banks for these payments,” he said.

Lawal highlighted that the consequential pension modifications brought about by the new National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act 2019 did not affect the pensions of senior officers of the rank of Major-General and above or their equivalents.

He reassured military retirees, NOKs, and other well-intentioned Nigerians that the board would remain steadfast and achieve full payment of the arrears before the end of the year, subject to funds release.