NAMA, pensioners tango over diversion of N1.5bn
Pensioners in the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency (NAMA) have accused the management of the agency of “fraudulently” diverting about N1.5 billion pension fund in the organisation.
The pensioners under the auspices of Airspace Management Pensioners Association of Nigeria (AMPAN), an affiliate of the Federal Parastatals and Private Sector Pensioners Association of Nigeria (FEPPAN), alleged that the pension fraud dated back to 2003.
Chairman of AMPAN, Engr. Kester Omotayo, spoke at the delegate conference by the association held at the Murtala Muhammed Airport (MMA), Lagos on Saturday.
But NAMA has dismissed the allegations, saying, “We make bold therefore to say that the agency runs on a transparent platform with zero tolerance for corruption, even as it is poised to protect and promote the interests of its senior citizens at all times.”
The pensioners said the short payment of the pensioners started with the Federal Airports Authority of Nigeria (FAAN) returnee pensioners to NAMA in 2005.
Omotayo stated that the pension increase which took effect from 2003 was not implemented by the agency’s management.
He disclosed that the Human Resources Department of NAMA had been duly notified of the issue but that it failed to address the problem.
He also accused the agency of operating two pension structures in order to deliberately cover up or attempt to cover some sharp practices in the pension division of the Human Resources Department.
But NAMA described the allegation as unsubstantiated, faulting the report that it was operating two pension structures.
Responding to the claim of the pensioners, the agency said the “above allegations are completely spurious and borne out of either malice, ignorance or both.”
The statement made available to Daily Trust read, “Consequently, the agency set up a committee (with membership comprising pensioners themselves) to investigate and come up with findings.
“NAMA does not and will not for any reason, operate two pension accounts. It is an impossibility, given the existing Treasury Single Account (TSA) platform in operation.
“As it stands today, the panel is still sitting and is yet to come up with its findings.
“NAMA is up-to-date in its obligation to pensioners as they have received their November remunerations as at 26th of November, 2020.
“NAMA is therefore startled and disenchanted to hear that some officials of the organization have decided to run to the press on a matter that is still being investigated.”