Board Plans Contributing Pension Scheme For Workers

Modalities are being put in place for the effective take-off of the Contributory Pension Scheme in the Rivers State Public Service.

The Chairman of the Rivers State Pensions Board (RSPB), Mrs Edna Alikor made this known recently in Port Harcourt at the maiden meeting of the board and relevant stakeholders, including the Head of Service, Mrs Esther Anucha and the Commissioner for Finance, Dr. Chamberlain Peterside.

Mrs Alikor said a tentative date for the take-off of the scheme would be fixed before the end of the year.

She noted that the main objective of the meeting was to address issues bordering on the implementation of the Contributory Pension Law as passed by the State House of Assembly and to ensure that the scheme is operated in accordance with the provisions of the law.

The Chairman further said that when operational, workers who have less than seven years in service would be exempted from the scheme as stipulated in the law, adding that the scheme is to enable workers save and contribute towards their retirement.

Mrs Alikor said those who retire from the service now receive their pensions and gratuities less than two months after retirement and decried the situation where some workers who had retired long ago receive less than N500 as monthly pension as well as the existence of names of dead pensioners in the nominal rolls.

The chairman noted that the task of the State Pensions Board was to regulate, supervise and ensure effective administration of pension matters, and thanked the Head of Service and the Commissioner for Finance for  finding time to attend the meeting in spite of their busy schedules.

Others in attendance were the Director General of the Board, Mr. Loveday Imeah, Permanent Secretary, Establishment and Pensions Bureau, Mr. Gift Ake, Permanent Secretary, Service Welfare, Mr. Lambert Ekwueme, Director of Pensions, Mr. Bennet Dadukaye, Chairman of the State Joint Public Service Negotiating Council, Comrade Chuku Emecheta, Chairman of the State Chapter of the Trade Union Congress, Comrade Chika Onuegbu, representatives of the Ministry of Justice and the State Chapter of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners.

The Rivers State Pensions Board was inaugurated by the State Governor, Rt. Hon. Chibuike Rotimi Amaechi in December 2009 with a part-time Chairman, Director General, four full-time members and 14 part-time members.