Delayed Pensions: Don’t let us die untimely Nigeria Television Authority Pensioners beg Federal Government

The Nigerian Television Authority Contributory Pensioners’ Association (NTACOPAN), on Thursday embarked on a protest over alleged delay in payment of their monthly pension/gratuity by the Federal Government

Penushing reports that,the pensioners  stormed Iwe-Iroyin    Press Centre, Abeokuta, with various placards and inscriptions such as:  “Fed Govt Pay Our 33% and 15% Pension Arrears”, ”Fed Govt Is Yet To Pay Contributory Pensioners After One Year Of Retirement”, “PENCOM Don’t Direct Our 15% And 33% Pension Increase Of CPS Retirees For Management Enjoyment” and ” PENCOM Pay Our Minimum Pension As Approved By The National Assembly”, to register their grievances.

The National President the association Kayode Da-Silva accompanied by State Chairman, Bayo Adeogun, and State Vice-Chairman, Oladosu Ademola  while speaking called on the Federal Government to come to their aid with regards to the Federal Contributory Pension Scheme, saying they cannot continue to suffer in silence.

 Penpushing further reports that, Da-Silva, during a press conference said that the delay in payment of the monthly pension/gratuity has been discussed over time but there has been no appreciable improvement from the government side.

“A situation whereby a pensioner does not have access to monthly pension/gratuity for a whole year is inhuman and inconsiderate to say the least. When people retire from work after 35 years and there is still delay in the initial commencements of monthly pension and gratuity to them, at times it takes up to 18 months or 15 months before they are paid for, which you have to wait before something is given to you’

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“The  last set of people the federal contributory pensioners got paid for was December 2018, so 2019 nothing, talkless of 2020 but then PENCOM would say is because there is no release from the government side why should that be”, he said.

The National President on the issue of unpaid 33½% and 15% Salary Arrears,  said that it is disturbing and uncomplimentary that members of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) have not been paid and the Federal Institutions responsible are not bother.

“Our colleagues under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS) have since been fully paid but we haven’t being paid a dime by the time we are given the salary arrears it will boost our salary. We are appealing to both the federal government and PENCOM to give us our due”, he said.

Penpushing also reports that, he also called on PENCOM and the Federal Government to make public the template used for the computation of terminal benefits of Pensioners under the CPS, saying it is only known to PENCOM which shouldn’t be.

“PENCOM is a federal government institution and public office, so if you have served for 35 years, so under the contributory scheme you are entitled to 80 percent of your terminal benefit as your pension every month”

The National President   while speaking  on the short- payment of the terminal benefits,  said that their employers, Nigerian Television Authority(NTA), has not updated their 2004 and 2007 pay slips to reflect monetization until around 2013, despite pressure and agitation from the body.

He added, “there is no evidence to show that any nominal roll reflecting update pay slips for 2004 and 2007 was ever forwarded to PENCOM before 2013 (we stand to be corrected). We hereby call for a redress of the short-payment”.

The Pensioners, also urged the Federal Government to revisit the issue of minimum pension guarantee of some Federal Contributory Pensioners, and on  the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS), the Pensioners also appealed to the Federal Authority to extend the NHIS scheme to them as beneficiaries, adding that this is the time they need more intensive care, having toiled and laboured for the Nation.

Penpushing reports that,Da-Silva  when  asked on the number of pensioners affected by the issue, said, “I don’t know the exact number of people affected because some people might come forward and some will not, but we will not be more than 2,000”