Kaduna pensioners among least paid in Nigeria – Ankyang
Richard Ankyang retired as an Assistant Director in the Kaduna State Ministry of Agriculture in 1998. In this exclusive interview, Ankyang says Kaduna pensioners are among the least paid in Nigeria. He shares his experience with Daily Trust as a retiree for 20 years and advocates for increased pension funds for retirees in the state
How has been your experience as a retiree?
Being a retiree for about 20 years has been a rough experience on my part. Most of my colleagues that retired about the same time with me are still alive and we share almost similar experiences. The pension being paid to retirees in Kaduna state is so little compared to our counterparts in other states.
Why do you think pensioners are paid little in Kaduna State?
The then President of Nigeria, Olusegun Obasanjo, upon coming as the first democratically elected president of Nigeria, saw that the pension paid to retirees was meagre. Therefore, he decided to increase it by 148 per cent. However, when it came to Kaduna State to implement, the governor at that time refused to implement. He just increased it by 80 per cent out of 148 per cent that was increased. Since then, we have been trying to see if that can be harmonised but all our efforts have been to no avail. That’s why in Kaduna State today, virtually all the pensioners that retired at that time are earning very little.
How was retirement sensitisation during your time in active service?
To be honest, retirees like me in the last 20 years did not have any prior notice or preparation for retirement. It is only now that it is being implemented which I commend the government for doing that through the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) which enables the workforce to have something to fall back on even after retirement. But, then, there was no adequate preparation made by people like us.
How are you coping in retirement since you did not make any adequate preparation?
I have to be sincere. Life has been very challenging and difficult to me because of the little amount I receive as pension. If I had been adequately prepared, this situation would not have come to be this bad, but the situation I find myself, I just thank God for keeping body and soul together.
What is your position on retirement and pension entirely in Nigeria?
The government does not put retirement benefits for retirees before retirement which often put them in difficult situations especially in Kaduna State. How Can you imagine for instance, you will be retiring in the next three months and the governments ask you to write to them hoping that by the time you must have retired, your benefits must have been worked and ready for you to access but I am telling you that the case is not like this in Kaduna State.
Some retirees still find it difficult to get their pensions till after three to five years with their retirement benefits inclusive and it is not fair enough because such people may have families to cater for them and also personal and pressing needs. Another thing is they keep on making empty promises at the pension board saying in the next one, two or three months, one’s pension will be paid and at the end of the day, it takes up to two, three or even four years.
What are you currently doing now as a retiree?
I am not doing anything serious. I don’t have a business neither do I work in any establishment after retirement. The only thing which I thank God today that I do that sustains me and my family is farming.
Can you imagine someone with a family earn N30, 000 as pension in this current difficult economic situation in Nigeria, and to make matters worse, cannot even access it as fast as possible? In fact, there are so many pensioners in Kaduna state that even earn as low as N10,000 or even less
What do you think government in general can do to improve the welfare of pensioners?
First, adequate sensitisation and getting people prepared is important. Then, that awareness was not there before.
Secondly, the pension benefits are the major problems which require immediate and expedient action to address the situation. At least, three months before retirement, pension benefits should be ready so that people access their benefits to sustain themselves.
Can you imagine someone with a family earn N30, 000 as pension in this current difficult economic situation in Nigeria, and to make matters worse, cannot even access it as fast as possible? In fact, there are so many pensioners in Kaduna state that even earn as low as N10,000 or even less. Finally, Harmonization is the key.