There have been a lot of problems associated with pension schemes in Nigeria over the years.

The grim reality of non-payment of pensions to retirees in most states of the federation is biting harder by the day.

The key objective of the National Pension Commission is to introduce a pension system that is sustainable and has the capacity to achieve the ultimate goal of providing a stable, predictable and adequate source of retirement income for each worker in Nigeria.

The Pension reform also seeks to establish a uniform set of rules and regulations for the administration and payment of retirement benefits in both the public and private sectors.

Aljazirahnews know that there is no doubt that the Pension Commission has gained public confidence and acceptability as a result of which 6.63 million employees from both the public and private sectors have opened Retirement Savings Accounts (RSAs).

Sixteen years after the enactment of the Pension Reform Act of 2004, there are still innate problems with its administration. Payment of retirement benefits under the Pension Commission to retirees is still untimely and unjustly delayed.

Reports of senior citizens in pains on account of unpaid pensions, and difficulties experienced under the country’s pension scheme are increasingly disturbing.

Recently, a group of federal pensioners cried out over the refusal of the federal government to pay a recently approved 12 months’ arrears of the 33 percent civil service salary increment under the Goodluck Jonathan government, which has only been paid to a selected few.

Aljazirahnews recalls that over a thousand retirees have died in most states of the federation as a result of hunger, sickness and frustration, among others.

Most of the retirees died because of their inability to pay for the most basic medical treatments amid other challenges.

It is bad enough that the system they served meritoriously has created pains for them in return. It is even worse that the agonies are sustained in both public and private sectors and largely by ineffectual pension administration policies.

We acknowledge the strides recorded by the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) which is responsible for the pension administration of the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS).

But like the proverbial Oliver Twist, we on behalf of these senior citizens urge it to do more to put smiles on the faces of these elderly people

PTAD was established to address the numerous pensioners’ complaints that bother on issues such as non-payment of monthly pension, short payment of pension and gratuity, removal of name on pension payment voucher, non-payment of harmonized pension arrears, irregular payment of federal pensions and non-receipt of pension after retirement, and other related issues, Aljazirahnews recalls.

Aljazirahnew strongly condemns the fact that workers who bear deductions in their monthly salaries for pension purpose end up bearing pains of delayed or non-payment of their pensions.

Aljazirahnews would like to urge the FG and the relevant pension authorities to ensure the timely payments of pensions to both state and federal retired workers.

This will go a long way to make our senior citizens happy and comfortable in their retirement, and also have full confidence that the government indeed has their backs in retirement.

Aljazirahnews believes that problem of delayed payment of pension is not totally as a result of the country’s economic hardship. The delay in pension payment is man-made.

Aljazirahnews urges the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration to critically look into this matter, and sanction defaulting and fraudulent government officers who frustrate efforts of pensioners who have invested the energies in their active years only to be tortured by disappointment in retirement.

We plead with the Nigerian Government and all those in charge of the pension scheme not to frustrate the retirement of senior citizens so they won’t die before their time.

Nigeria pensioners deserve a peaceful retirement.

http://aljazirahnews.com/index.php/2016/10/11/editorial-pensioners-deserve-peaceful-retirement-not-suffering/

They deserve what they refused to fight against.
E de sweet dem wen dem de dia.
Let them lay on the bed they laid