PHCN pensioners lament unpaid entitlements
Pensioners under the aegis of Concerned PHCN Pensioners have said matters surrounding their delayed entitlements remained unresolved in spite of efforts made to address them.
One of the Coordinators, Mr Muritala Dunmoye said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Monday.
“The following main agitations are yet to be resolved: year 2000 retirees’ difference of 42 per cent short fall payment for past 21 years; harmonisation of pre-2003 retirees; and monetisation of post 2004 retirees.
“Also, 33 per cent pension rates increment of July 2010, paid to all other Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS) pensioners to date while excluding NEPA/PHCN pensioners.
“Lastly, electricity rebates, that is, utility, stopped without a reason since 2012 or thereabout,” he said.
Dunmoye said that the pensioners contacted the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) on all the above positions through letters.
He said, however, the agency’s response was either payments would be made soon or when funds were made available.
He said that due to delays, pensioners had been suffering.
“Some are with various degrees of health challenges seemingly unresolvable due to lack of money.
“Our pensioners have always been kept in the dark as regard our entitlements,’’ Dunmoye said.
The coordinator said that the concerned pensioners group was working to contact the presidency in order to resolve the issues affecting them.
The pensioners had on March 11, 2021 picketed the office of PTAD over delayed payment of entitlements.
The pensioners had on the same day handed over a letter to PTAD stating their demands and had given the agency a two-week ultimatum.
The ultimatum was to ensure the agency start effecting payment of the accrued arrears after which if not effected, the pensioners would continue to picket the offices across the 36 states of the federation.
However, PTAD responded in a letter signed by its Director of Parastatal Pension Department, Mr Kabiru Yusuf for the Executive Secretary, Mrs Chioma Ejikeme and made available to NAN.
Concerning the 33 per cent increment on pension, Ejikeme said that advice received from the National Salaries Incomes and Wages Commission showed that the ex-workers of PHCN were not entitled.
She said: “While we sympathise with all concerned pensioners that have been waiting for so long for their right entitlements, PTAD will continue to strive hard so that all the anomalies are corrected.” (NAN)
