…capturing of previous Civil Defence volunteers
The House of Representatives, on Thursday expressed concern over the failure of Federal Government to pay up the sum of N286 billion representing five percent share into the Pension Redemption Fund in line with the Pension Reform Act 2014.
The lawmakers expressed the concern during the debate on the motion on the ‘Need for intervention in the current crisis of unpaid pension arrears threatening the lives of Nigeria’s retired senior citizens,’ sponsored by Toby Okechukwu (PDP-Enugu) and six others.
In his lead debate, Okechukwu, chairman House Committee on Works decried the non-inclusion of accrued benefits for pensioners under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) and Defined Benefits Scheme (DBS) in the annual budget.
The lawmaker who expressed concern that under the Contributory Pension Scheme, retirees who retired since 2015 had not been paid their pension benefits, blamed Federal Government for failing to contribute its statutory share of five percent worth N286 billion to the Pension Redemption Fund in line with the Pension Reform Act 2014 amounting to a total of
Okechukwu also expressed worry that pensioners under the DBS which include the Police, Pensions, the Nigerian Customs Service, Nigeria Immigration Service, Nigeria Prisons Service, Civil Service and other parastatals were yet to be paid their 33 percent accrued arrears amounting to about N174 billion.
“The delay in payment of pension arrears has resulted in dire situations where pensioners are wallowing in penury, sickness, hopelessness and regret for serving their fatherland diligently only to be abandoned by government upon retirement,” he said.
To this end, the House urged Federal Government to provide emergency bail-out funds to pay outstanding workers’ salaries and pension arrears, noted as its primary responsibility.
While ruling on the motion, Speaker Yakubu Dogara mandated the Committee on Pensions to ensure compliance and report back to the House within four weeks for further legislative action.
Also at the Thursday plenary, the House mandated its Committee on Interior to investigate the matter of non-absorption of early volunteers of Civil Defence into the Nigerian Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC).
The resolution was passed sequel to the adoption of the motion sponsored by Opiah Nanah (PDP-Imo) who frowned at the discrimination meted against thousands of volunteers spread across the country.
He further observed that since 2003, no concrete plans had been made to absorb the early volunteers of Civil Defence into the NSCDC, thereby worsening the unemployment situation in the country.
While ruling on the motion, Speake Yakubu Dogara mandated the committee to look into the matter and report back within four weeks for further legislative action.
