Pension Funds: The Untold Story

The sharp disagreement in Enugu state now over the pension scheme funds has raised fundamental issues as to the exact percentage of a civil servant’s salary that should be deducted to fund the national contributory pension scheme.

In a bill to the state House of Assembly for the implementation of the scheme, the state government wants a 50/50 contribution with the government, a proposal that has kicked up dust among the stakeholders, especially labour unions.

Commenting on the matter during a public debate on the bill, Chudi Onah, representing the Trade Union Congress, said his union would not want the bill to be passed as presently constituted where the workers are to pay 50/50 pensions contributions with the state government, and insisted that government should pay 18% and workers five per cent.

In the past, an average retired civil servant literally wailed over the non-payment of his pension and gratuities. There were confirmed reports that some retired workers even died before their entitlements could be paid.

Apparently worried by public outcry, the Olusegun Obasanjo administration established the National Pension Commission (PENCO), with an Act by the erstwhile National Assembly, in order to give legal teeth to the commission. This was greeted with applause by the general public, especially the retirees.

Indeed, the contributions of Nigerian workers and employers to the contributory pension scheme now stand at over N84 billion, according to Dr Kabir Ahmed, Director-General of the pension commission.

Delivering a lecture entitled “Poverty Reduction, Social Security and Pensions Reform in Nigeria,” Dr Ahmed said the figure was the accumulated contributions as at now, and expressed happiness that with the pension scheme, the country has been able to build a pool of long-term financial resources.

Said he: “Pension funds play a key role in mobilising long-term funds which have contributed significantly in providing the base for capital formation investment that could spur economic growth in Nigeria,” He, however, noted that the resources (funds) so far mobilised were still in search of attractive investment opportunities.

But it is rather unfortunate that some states (such as Enugu) are yet to implement the pension scheme in spite of the awareness campaigns mounted by the federal authorities, thus hanging the fate of their retired staff in the balance.

This is said, to say the least! Worse still, a section of the private sector had also reportedly refused to implement the National Pension Scheme, for some inexplicable reasons, an attitude that is giving concern to the authorities of the commission, in view of the anticipated plights of the retired staff of such firms.

It is, therefore, imperative to ask the federal government to wade into the issue and prevail on such defaulting state governments and firms to implement the pension scheme, in order to lay a good foundation for their retired staff.

Agreed, there had been fears over the ‘safety’ of the funds so far contributed to the scheme. But the provisions of the Pension Act, squarely allay such fears, especially the various levels of risk involved in the management of the contributed funds.

Again, the federal authorities should rise to the occasion and direct some of the contributors (state governments) to remit promptly, their contributions to the contributory pension scheme. That way, the future of the retired staff would be assured.

Suffice it to say that one such way to implement the National Pension Scheme is for the National Assembly to step into the matter. This, it could do, by directing the committee concerned to work with the management of the National Pensions Commission.

That way, the committee would be able to identify the defaulting state governments, as well as a section of the private sector, and thereafter, roll out sanctions against such recalcitrant states and firms.

The future of the Nigerian retired worker must be protected and assured, no matter whose ox is gored. Yes, time has come when a retired worker should smile home rather than cry home. The contributions by employers of labour to the pension scheme, appears to be the only sure way.

All said, but when shall we stop to weep for the nation’s retirees for not getting their entitlements years after retirement from active service. Their plight must end one day!