The NUP feels the compelling need to put the facts straight as the FG’s indebtedness to the CPS is well over N280 billion. Therefore, the release of N54 billion cannot be said to have cleared FG’s backlog of pension liability
proposed in the 2017 budget is nothing to write home about.
Rep Aliyu Sani Madaki (APC, Kano) was more critical to the ministers and the government of the day, saying Nigerians voted the APC-led government to witness change, which must be brought to the people.
“What we expected from the two ministers was to give us full brief on the pension fund administration. What we got from the two ministers was a passive comment. This government has been in power for about two years. You can’t come here and start telling us stories of 2014.
“What are you doing now? Nigerians deserve better. It means what happened before is still happening now. When a civil servant is retired, he should know when his entitlements would be due. What are you doing now to ensure prompt release of appropriated pension fund?” he said.
On his part, Deputy Speaker Yussuf Suleiman Lasun advised that the Executive arm at all times must look at those laws that need to be amended to address such issues like pension.
Rep Jagaba Adams Jagaba (APC, Kaduna) raised the issue of how pensioners suffer during screening exercise with some collapsing in the process. “How do you ensure that the money released goes directly to the beneficiaries without ending up in the pockets of some cabals?” he said.
Several other lawmakers asked question and the two ministers responded to some of the issues raised accordingly, but in the end, the lawmakers demanded the report of the presidential panel on the matter for them to further deal with the issue.
In a remark, NUP president, Afolayan, thanked President Muhammadu Buhari for his commitment to pension matters and the House for inviting the ministers on the matter.
He later said in a statement that the release of the N42bn by government did not in any way mean that all the liabilities have been cleared, adding that the liabilities stand at about N280bn and that the amount paid could not be said to clear everything.
“The NUP feels the compelling need to put the facts straight as the FG’s indebtedness to the CPS is well over N280 billion. Therefore, the release of N54 billion cannot be said to have cleared FG’s backlog of pension liability,” he said.