Rep Summons NPA Over Non-Payment of N7.3bn Pension Arrears

The House of Representatives on Friday summoned the management of the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) over non-payment of the N7.3 billion owed its pensioners.

The money is the arrears of the 30 per cent pension increase in the past eight years.

Rep. Rasak Adewusi, Chairman, House of Representatives Committee on Pensions, said this during a mediation meeting between NPA Pension Welfare Association and the authority in Abuja.

He demanded to know how much was voted for pension for the NPA in the last nine years and the amount that was disbursed.

Adewusi told the NPA management, led by the Managing Director, Abdulsalam Mohammed, that his committee received a petition alleging gross misapplication of the various super-annuation/pensions fund over the years which led to the non-settlement of their various entitlements.

The petitioner had alleged that NPA management mismanaged and depleted its super-annuation /pension fund over the years.

The petitioner alleged that 30 per cent increase in pension arrears of eight years and 92 per cent of arrears of the previous nine years had yet to be settled

The petitioner further said that the authority failed to refund National Housing Fund contribution contrary to the provisions of the Pension Fund Act section 17 (a & b).

“They also complained of non-payment of the outstanding entitlements of the year 2005 retirees which included their five years guaranteed pension; their repatriation allowances and sundry entitlements,” the lawmaker said.