The managing director of the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund, Munir Abubakar, could be sued for murder anytime soon. The charge: non-payment of pensions to retirees for 55 months!
I understand that Mr Abubakar denies owing the pensioners. But he does so only in newspapers. To the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, NSITF branch, his “continued nonchalance and attitude have become sources of great concern to our suffering and helpless members”. The union made its feelings known in a recent letter to the MD/CEO of NSITF and copied to the minister of labour and employment, Dr Chris Ngige; and the secretary to the government of the federation, Engr. Babachir David Lawal.
Although NSITF retirees are owed for almost five years, what each is supposed to collect is still a pittance, because the Fund has yet to implement the pay rise for its pensioners as directed since August 2013. Mr Abubakar is also accused of not funding NSITF’s pension fund account as approved by the board. Besides, those who retired 10 years ago from NSITF have not received refunds from the National Housing Fund because NSITF has failed to keep its promises to update their passbooks without which none could access their contributions. Their woes are worsened by their inability to make claims from their pension fund administrator (PFA). Voluntary contributions made by some who retired nine years ago were neither remitted to the PFA nor accounted for.
Judging by the lamentations of pensioners nationwide, I know NSITF is not alone. But we are in an era of change. Any CEO of a government agency or department who cannot pay pensioners and workers should resign or be removed. Incompetence has no better identity.
–By ANIEBO NWAMU
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