Pensioners accuse FG of spending their dues on Jonathan's campaign

dimeji akinloye

May 9, 2015 8:29 AM

The retirees said more than 20 of their colleagues have died in the struggle to be paid.

President Goodluck Jonathan at Kwara PDP rally before the 2015 general elections.

The Nigerian Union of Pensioners have accused the Federal Government of spending their 10 months pension dues on President Goodluck Jonathan's campaign

The Union said this at a press conference in Abeokuta, Ogun State.

More than 100 of the Federal retirees gathered, carrying placards with different inscriptions on them, to stage a protest against the government over their unpaid contributory pension, which they said has impoverished them.

They said more than 20 of their colleagues have died in the struggle to be paid.

Some of the inscriptions on the placards read, “we have suffered enough after 35 years service to our fatherland,”“PenCom is owing retirees 10 months arrears of unpaid pension and gratuities,” and ” N4.6 trillion has been used for campaign, Abi na lie.”

The Union leader, Samuel Kojusola listed computation and compilation of retirement benefits, meagre amount paid as monthly pension, review of pension and non-payment of retirement benefits, as some of the anomalies in the government's implementation of Reform Act 2014.

“What do they want the retiree to be eating after serving Federal Government of Nigeria for 35 years meritoriously? We suspect that our money in the kitty of Pencom has been used for 2015 electioneering campaign,” he said.

Kojusola further lamented, "retirees have been complaining seriously on meagre amount paid as monthly pension either as monthly withdrawal or annuity. Contributory pensions received only 20-25% of their last pay as monthly pension, while a pensioner in the old pension scheme receives 80% of his last pay as monthly pension’

“Pension Reform Act 2004 section (4) stipulated that retirees will have not less than 50% of their last pay as monthly pension as at the date of their retirement. None of the retirees enjoy this amount since the inception of the act till date. Unfortunately the portion has been expunged from the new pension reform act 2014. What have we done to deserve this ugly treatment? This is a leeway for PFA’s to milk us perpetually.”

dimeji akinloye