Pensioners, under the umbrella body of Federal Parastatals and Private Sector Pensioners Association of Nigeria (FEPPPAN), have urged President Muhammadu Buhari to sponsor an executive bill to the National Assembly to make payment of pensions a first-line charge in the annual budgets of the country.
This, they said, was because of their apprehensions that “the monumental sanity being witnessed and the unprecedented fraud – free pension regime of his administration may suffer setback if the next President unfortunately treat pension payment as a lesser priority.”
FEPPPAN further urged President Buhari to immortalise himself in the heart and life of Nigerian pensioners and their families by constitutionalising pension payment as a first- line charge before he exits office.
The union, in a communique at the end of her National Executive Council (NEC) meeting jointly signed by its President-General, General Secretary and National P.R.O, Chief (Dr) Tempe Ubani, Mr. Franklin Enrile, and Mr Jonathan Iyoo, respectively, FEPPPAN said: “NEC-In-session commended President Mohammadu Buhari GCFR, for making Pensioners welfare a top priority and ensuring regular approval of funds for monthly payment of Federal Pensioners’ pensions.
“NEC also salutes the Honourable Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Hajia Zainab Ahmed CON, for regular and prompt release of funds for monthly payment of our members’ pensions.
“NEC in -session equally acknowledge Dr. Mrs. Chioma Nnenna Ejikeme, the Executive Secretary of Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate PTAD, for her proactive, diligent and expeditious payment of the monthly pensions and some other outstanding retirement benefits of Defined Benefits Scheme DBS Pensioners when funds are released.”
The communique further said: “FEPPPAN NEC in – session noted with grave concerns PTAD’S protracted delays to obey and failure to implement the provisions of the Trade Unions Act, Regarding the Automatic Deduction at Source, of Check off Dues from our members and Remit to FEPPPAN, as a Registered and Reorganised Trade Union.
“The NEC in session noted that in spite of the fact that the Hon. Minister of Labour and Enployment had repeatedly advised ptad according, the Directorate is yet to act accordingly.”