Nation
Stakeholders Hail Senate’s Move To Review Pension Reform Act
Some stakeholders have commended the move by the Senate to review the lump sum paid to retirees from their savings from 50 per cent to 75 per cent.
The stakeholders, who spoke in separate interviews with newsmen in Ibadan yesterday Thursday, described the move as a welcome development.
Dr Victor Makanjuola, National President, Medical and Dental Consultants’ Association of Nigeria (MDCAN), said that most retirees felt cheated with the returns from their Pension Funds Administrators (PFAs).
Makanjuola said that this had informed the demand for the upward review of the retirement funds.
He said: “After the initial 50 per cent lump sum, what retirees get each month subsequently is peanut, despite the number of years that retirees had made the savings.
“But, with the upward review, it will be possible for retirees to get 75 per cent and invest it on ventures that will yield lots more than what the PFAs will be giving to them.
“It is a good thing because it will make lots of retirees get better value for their money,” he said.
Makanjuola, however, noted that the move to increase the lump sum to retirees had its pros and cons.
“For instance, there may also be some retirees who will invest wrongly or squander their money and are left with just 25 per cent for the rest of their life.’’
He, however, said the latest would be of great benefit to those who invested their monies wisely because of the meager yield from PFAs.
Also, Mr Wale Akinremi, Chairman, Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), University of Ibadan chapter, told newsmen that the move was in the right direction.
Akinremi said that the prevailing economic situation in the country called for the upward review.
“When you look at the current monetary policy in Nigeria, devaluation of currency and all that, they affect the value of what retirees get.
“It is indeed an answer to the yearnings of the workers, as they have been at it for quite a while,’’ he said.
Mrs Abiola Mapaderun, a civil servant in Oyo State, also lauded the initiative, saying that it would bring succour to retirees, considering the economic situation in the country.
It was gatherd that Sen. Aliyu Wamakko, representing Sokoto North senatorial district, had sponsored the bill to amend the Pension Reform Act 2004 to grant retirees access to 75 per cent of their pension savings.
The Rivers state Government has identified six local government areas with the highest burden of maternal and Neonatal mortality in the state.
State Commissioner for Health Dr Adaeze Chidinma Oreh said this in an interview with newsmen at the Maternal and Neonatal Reduction innovation initiative ( Mamii)Rivers state activation workshop and state engagement meeting in Port Harcourt.
The event was organized by The Federal Ministry of Health in conjunction with its Rivers state counterpart in Port Harcourt.
Dr Oreh also restated the preparedness of the state government to support current efforts by the federal government towards the reduction of maternal and infant mortalities in the country.
She mentioned the affected Local Government Areas to include, Andoni,Akuku Toru and Ahoada West
The rest according to the Commissioner are, Bonny, Etche and Emohua Local Government Areas.
She said the workshop will enable the team from the federal ministry of health and social welfare to brainstorm with the view to finding solution to the problem.
The Commissioner also gave reasons why the Mamii initiative was the best as far as finding solution to maternal mortality was concerned.
“The uniqueness of the Mamii initiative driven by the federal ministry of health and social welfare was that we used evidence to elicit the reasons for this deaths, so that the solutions will be context specific and tailored to the particular environment where those deaths are occuring
“For us in Rivers state we have six Mamii LGAs , nationally we we have 172 local government areas “the Commissioner said.
Earlier in her opening remarks,Dr Oreh said the state government is prepared to work with the federal ministry of health and social welfare to check the rate of maternal mortality in the state.
She commended The Minister of Health and Social welfare Professor Ali Muhammad Pategi for driving the Mamii initiative across the country and expressed optimism that the programm will see to the end of maternal mortality in the country.
Also speaking the National Coordinator Nigeria health sector Renewal Initiative Dr Adam Ahmed said Rivers state is the last state among Mamii states in the country to host the team.
He said the team will visit the affected Local Government Areas with the view to interacting with the people on how to check the trend.
He expressed the hope that with continuous efforts, maternal mortality will be checked.
Also speaking the permanent secretary Rivers state Ministry of Health Professor Justinah Jumbo said the government is not leaving any stone unturned towards reduction in maternal deaths.
The permanent secretary said Governor Siminalaye Fubara is a health friendly Governor who is desirous in improving the quality of health of Rivers people.
John Bibor
A pan-Nigeria organisation committed to the promotion and preservation of indigenous languages, Indigenous Language and Culture Promoters (ILCP), has called for the deliberate development and compulsory teaching of indigenous languages in both primary and secondary schools across the country.
The group made the call during its maiden Congress held in Bori, Rivers State, which was convened to examine challenges hindering the official adoption and effective teaching of Ogoni languages in schools.
Speaking at the Congress, the Executive Director of the organisation, HRC Mene Magnus Edooh, Amb.P, emphasised the critical role of indigenous languages in preserving a people’s culture, values and history. He warned against the gradual extinction of native languages, noting that language loss equates to identity loss.
“Years ago, Latin was a language of global relevance, but today it is largely extinct. We do not want Ogoni languages to suffer a similar fate. As a people, we cannot afford to lose our identity through the death of our languages,” Edooh said.
He explained that the Indigenous Language and Culture Promoters was established to collaborate with language stakeholders to ensure that children and younger generations remain connected to their mother tongues. The organisation also appealed to governments at all levels, as well as relevant institutions and individuals, to take strategic actions aimed at promoting and sustaining Nigeria’s indigenous languages.
Also speaking, the newly appointed Director of Media and Information, Prince David N. Gbarato, questioned the rationale behind government reluctance to accord indigenous languages their rightful place in national development policies.
According to him, “People with well-developed languages are people with well-developed indigenous systems and affairs,” stressing that language development is fundamental to cultural and societal advancement.
The Congress further served as a platform for the ratification of key officers of the organisation and featured the participation of representatives from various indigenous language groups and other language stakeholders, all of whom echoed the call for renewed commitment towards safeguarding Nigeria’s linguistic heritage.
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