Still on NNN, PTAD and FG
The New Nigeria Newspapers Ltd. (NNN), established in January 1966 by the Premier of Northern Nigeria, Sir Ahmadu Bello the Sardauna of Sokoto. In 1975 the Murtala/Obasanjo’s led federal military government took over the management of the newspaper wholly, and in 2006 the Obasanjo’s civilian regime returned the NNN back to its original owners, now the 19 Northern States.
In this North today we have bodies such as the arewa consultative forum (ACF), Northern Elders Forum (NEF), Northern Governor’s Forum (NGF) and the likes claiming to be championing the cause of the North and protecting the legacies of Sir, Ahmadu Bello. But none of this larger than life organizations who always celebrate him (Sardauna) during his anniversary and singing of his praises, said a word on the revival of the NNN or help the cause of its suffering pensioners to get their pay.
The fortune of the company had started dwindling even before the hand-over in 2006. Today the company is neither here nor there and for about five (5) years paper has disappeared completely from the streets and again these pressure groups never said anything. What an irony of faith.
In year 2,000 there was massive retrenchment of staff in the name of reorganization and those so retired had been facing untold hardship as a result of nonpayment of their pension. The NNN pensioners were verified in the 4th quarter of 2017, 2nd - 6th October, along with other organizations with the understanding that those verified shall be paid within four (4) months after verification.
However, in April, 2018, a director of cash in the Federal Ministry of Finance discovered that 1.2b Naira has been paid to the NNN management. The Executive Secretary PTAD Mrs. Sharon IKpeazor (May Allah rewards her staff for their good efforts) confirmed that this amount was paid in one of her facebook chat with one of our member (pensioner).
She said “in our bid to pay NNN we foundout 1.2b Naira has been paid to the NNN Management for pension, federal government cannot pay twice, once they money paid is accounted for, payment will commence”.
The MD and his management should be made to account or defend what they did or how they spent the money. The NNN pensioners should not be made to carry their (MD’s) cross. Because I could vividly recall, when our leadership heard about the monies, (then we never even knew the amount) they approached the MD and he told them that the money was not meant for pension, but for its NNN logistics.
And from this 1.2b Naira the management paid its staff pension of four (4) years (2006 – 2010) which is a Northern Governor’s liabilities while seven million Naira (N7,000,000.00) was debited by the Unity Bank where the money was deposited as a result of an over-draft/debt issued to NNN management for payment of arrears of salaries.
Another hidden issue that came to light (which is an added problem to the delay in getting paid) is the meeting held between NNN management and the former Chairman of the Northern Governors Forum Committee on NNN, Governor of Sokoto State Aliyu Maga Takarda Wamako. This meeting was null and void as the other stakeholders (pensioners) were deliberately not involved in the meeting where decisions directly affecting them were taken erroneously.
So it is pertinent to draw the attention of both Federal Ministry of Justice/Finance, that pension payment is for life, there is no such thing as final payment as the illegal meeting concluded. (Unless if there is a written/signed agreement between the paying Agency (Gov) and the Pensioner or his representative).
In view of all the happenings regarding this payment and while I am not contesting the reasons advanced by the Executive Secretary PTAD and after reading the statement credited to her in the Daily Trust Publication of 17/05/2018 regarding the delay in the payment of the NNN pensioners, I am appealing to her (ES) and especially both Ministry of Justice/Finance to look at us with compassion and do the needful.
We are a set of pensioners that have not enjoyed pension for over 10years. Please enroll us, let start enjoying the monthly pay, so that when the interpretations are made, we get paid of the arrears and so that the monthly pay may cushion the hardship we are facing.
Whatever it is that has been paid to us 2,000 retirees and former pensioners should not in any way make the Justice & Finance Ministry to stop PTAD from paying us our dues as we are bona fide federal government pensioners.