Pay us while we are alive! – Pensioners cry out to FG
File Photo: Some pensioners
Published By: Oluwapelumi Oluwayemi
Many pensioners have called on the Federal Government and their Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) to expedite payments of their annuity and pension entitlements while they are still alive.
In interviews conducted by NAN on Sunday, these retirees expressed their urgent need for funds to cover basic necessities, including food, medical expenses, and other bills.
Ekpemyong Francis, who retired from the Federal Ministry of Information and Culture in May 2023, revealed he has yet to receive his retirement benefits.
“We are still waiting for the Federal Government to release the accrued rights to my PFA to calculate my pension,” he lamented.
“My family and I are hungry. I can’t pay my children’s school fees. My landlord is on my neck, and I can’t access the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) anymore. If you look into my eyes, you will know that I need urgent medical attention. We, the pensioners in this country, are suffering.”
Similarly, Joy Izor, who retired from the Ministry of Defence in 2016, shared her struggles with a meager pension.
“My PFA is IBTC. The agency calculated my monthly pension to be N20,000, but I switched to an annuity that promised N25,000. Since then, I haven’t seen any additional money. We are struggling to feed ourselves. I even opened a shop to sell soft drinks, but the government demolished it. Now, that amount cannot even sustain my family, let alone cover medical bills and other expenses,” she stated.
Grace Yussuf, a retired Deputy Editor-in-Chief at NAN, echoed similar sentiments, noting that she had not received any payments since her retirement in May 2023.
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“My NHIS was halted immediately after my retirement, which has become a significant burden. I’m spending a lot on lab tests and medications,” she said. “The cost to register for a private NHIS is overwhelming.”
Others like Mrs. Nkiru Osisioma and Mrs. Christiana Ubah also expressed concerns regarding their pensions, with Ubah revealing that she hadn’t been paid for the past six months.
“Today, I can’t feed myself. Among us are people who retired in March 2023 and have not received a kobo. Look at how harsh the economy is because of our leaders,” Ubah said.
Legal practitioner Emmanuel Ikenna emphasized the importance of pension management for national development and advised that the Pension Reform Act be regularly reviewed.
“Pension is a regular payment made by the state to people of or above the official retirement age and is vital for their well-being,” he stated.
An official with the National Pension Commission (PenCom) addressed some misconceptions regarding the withdrawal of lump sums from retirees’ Retirement Savings Accounts (RSAs).
They explained that retirees are allowed to withdraw a portion of their pension savings as a lump sum upon retirement, emphasizing that the amount is calculated based on a standardized template developed by PenCom.
The official also noted ongoing efforts to address non-payments to annuitants under African Alliance Insurance Company, stating that PenCom is collaborating with the National Insurance Commission (NAICOM) to ensure affected retirees receive their entitlements.
