Hundreds of Nigerian Television Authority (NTA) Retirees on Thursday embarked on peaceful protest to register their displeasure over failure of the government in paying their 15 months gratuity and pension arrears, stressing that they were facing difficult time as a result of the development.
The pensioners led by their Interim National President, Kayode Da-Silva stormed Iwe Iroyin Press Centre, Abeokuta, with various placards with inscriptions which reads, ’Federal Government Don’t Kill us of Hunger, Please pay us our money’, Pencom Don’t Divert 15% and 33% pension increase of CPS retirees for Management Enjoyment’, Federal Government is Yet to Pay Contributory Pensioners after one year of Retirement’, and Pencom Please pay our 33% and 15% Pension Arrears’, among others
Speaking with journalists, Kayode Da-Silva said the situation is lamentable and regrettable which calls for serious concern, noting that, ’It is often said that rest is sweet after labour, but for Nigerian workers, the reverse is the case. To our Senior citizens rest is sweat after labour’
The protesters under the umbrella of Contributory Pensioners Association declared that their advice and advocacy to the Federal Government is to base pension and gratuity on first-line-charge, rather than on budgetary allocation.
They also recalled that, this suggestion was also made by a discussant from Pencom on a National Television Programme late last year, arguing that pensioners are not expected to live a lamenting life in retirement
‘Afterall, verification exercises take place, one year before pensioners go on retirement. This period is long enough for proper and effective planning. Another point of concern to us as contributory pensioners of the Federal Government is the non-payment of 33% and 15% to us’
Da-Silva added,”this is being paid to Federal Pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS).The issue had been lingering on for over 4 years now. When the Federal Government released N54.1b to Pencom a couple of months ago, the impression given was that the released fund was specifically for payment of the salary arrears of 33% and 15%’
The protesters recalled that, the beneficiaries and their dependants heaved a sigh of relief, but the joy was short-lived, as the money released was used by Pencom in paying outstanding gratuity and monthly pension arrears of pensioners who have not received a dime after retirement.
‘We hereby call for immediate settlement of the arrears due to us, which according to Pencom had already been captured in 2018 approved budget. The Federal Government should not make such payment less worthy and meaningful to beneficiaries
On the impending general salary review, the protesters appealed to government at all levels, to carry the Nigerian Pensioners along, stressing that they do not need to struggle over this, as the senior citizens of the country
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