It is a new dawn for Nigerian pensioners with the establishment of Presidential Task Force Team on Pension Reform. WILLIAMS ORJI writes on the challenges facing this team and the need for the body to be given a maximum support.
When the Presidential Task Force Team on Pension Reform was first inaugurated by the President and Commander in Chief of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan in August 2011,through the office of the Head of Civil Service of the Federation (HOCSF),it was seen as one of the usual jamboree that when introduced will not see the light of the day. Suffice to state that, no serious blame need to be attached to such pessimists, reasons being the nation has more often than not come up with series of laudable programmes that are aimed at alleviating the plight of the masses at various points in time, yet without positive or meaningful impact on the lives of the people.
Looking at the pains Nigeria civil servants go through after leaving service as experience has rightly shown, it is pathetic to state in bold terms that the term “civil”? speaking from different interpretations which is supposed to mean a “mild” or “less injurious situation” is seen as having no place in the lives of retired federal civil servants. Sadly enough, same retirees – civil servants, who toiled to ensure that Nigeria remains one indivisible entity turned miserable. A handful of retirees became occupants of major highways/ streets – beggars. Review in the past further showed that pensioners were treated as beast of burden and out of impoverishment, these retirees – turned street beggars were more often than not even found hawking petty articles along major highways just because their contributions to nation building are perhaps not appreciated. Among the retirees, some out of frustration developed what is popularly referred to as the high blood pressure, stroke and what have you. Some became mentally deranged and even died. The few ones who still have solace in their creator have voluntarily surrendered their matter on the alter of God.
The issue is no doubt worrisome. In some quarters, analysts came to the realisation that the sufferings of these retirees are not natural, but man- made. On tye whole, findings have shown that the remote cause of these pensioners travails and bizarre situations are not unconnected with improper implementation of pension policies, technical know-how, criminal tendencies to loot pensioners funds and the crazy desire for wealth accumulation by a few priviledged persons who may have lost the milk of emotion and kindness in themselves to warrant such gruesome wickedness to their fellow human beings. Pensioners have no doubt become sacrificial lambs, even of less homo -sapien status.
With the inauguration of the task team led by Alhaji Abdul-Rasheed Maina, shortly after impacting in restructuring the Customs, Immigration and Prisons board (CIPB),the travails of these retirees as succinctly put by a section of Nigerians could be said to have reached the alter of sympathy like the Biblical Abel who after being murdered by his own brother drew God’s attention.
This 9-Man task team on pension reforms headed by Alhaji A. Maina through the office of the Head of Service of the Federation saw the need to revive and resuscitate the ailing Nigerian pension system. In achieving this, one of the strategies adopted was the introduction of the bio- metric system of data gathering, collation and analysis. No sooner was this implemented than Nigerians came to the realization that the plight and travails of retirees was not natural, but artificial.
Information has it that in less than four months of its operations, over seventy thousand fake pensioners whose names were among the one hundred and fourty one thousand (141,000)persons submitted to the pension reform task team for verification were fakes and had also been on pension pay-roll over the years. Besides, the newly inaugurated task team under the new dispensation realized that before it assumed office, under-aged persons were paid monthly pension, names of account numbers were forged and duplicated with falsified documents. With this discovery, the sum of N3 billion naira budgetted each month as payment for pensioners take- home is now being drastically reduced to less than a billion naira (N1 billion) except with an increase due to those recently captured. This development of cutting fraudulent costs for the government through the efforts of the task team is seen as commendable. A source at the office of the Head of Service of the Federation who spoke on condition of anonymity disclosed that since it commenced operation, the team also stumbled on piled -up funds meant to pay pensioners. Even though this discovery may not have gone down well with perpetrators and saboteurs, recent revelation by the Chairman, House of Representatives committee on Pension matters, Hon. Ibrahim Kamba on an alleged five billion naira (N5bn) scam among some top government functionaries showed that the activities of the task team in cleansing the filthy stable is an indication of its response to the yearnings and aspirations of the nation pensioners across the country. As Nigerians, kudos must be given to the team for disabusing the minds of pessimists from the age long conception of the workability of the team goals and its desire to realizing the vision 202020 of the federal government through its accountability posture.
As part of its commitment to the cause of pensioners, the revalidation exercise has not only been decentralized across the country for ease, data of bonafide pensioners are being computed with the newly procured machines just as payment are paid in batches. In a chat with the Assistant. Secretary – General of the National Union of Pensioners, A. Gazali, “the union is satisfied with the operations of the task team and it’s seen as restoring hope to the pensioners, especially with the discovery of fake pensioners”.
Even though there is need for the task team to further intensify efforts in the on- going exercise, the recent extension of the deadline for the revalidation exercise is also lauded as it is aimed at providing a level playing ground for all. Speaking with Pa. Adeshina Olajide on phone, the 94 years old retired permanent Secretary in the federal civil service said, “am most delighted that the pension team have come to my abode in Ondo state to ensure that I am being captured in the on- going pension revalidation exercise. This has never happened for decades. I really believe the pension team is working”.?
Despite what is on ground, the task team has continuously come under condemnation, criticisms and even threats from some quarters. It should be noted that this position is a misplaced priority as the nation cannot achieve any meaningful development in an atmosphere where good works are not complimented. The time has come for all and sundry to come together in the interest of the suffering pensioners and the nation at large.
While it is a reality that the pension task team cannot afford to fail the nation in this crucial assignment, there is need for the federal government to assist the team by making it an independent body, answerable to Mr. President whose vision led to the birth of the project.
In addition, adequate funds must be made available to the task team throughout its period of operation to enable it discharge its statutory role effectively. Towards effectively achieving its noble goal too, the government must create an avenue where both pensioners as major stakeholders and the task team could always meet to discuss meaningful issues that could help the duo in the task ahead.
Moreso, those who may? have committed fraudulent act, criminalities or its tendencies in the past, irrespective of positions at home or abroad must be sufficiently dealt with after full proof as a deterrent as the nation cannot afford to go back to the debris.
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