Union seeks uniform implementation of Contributory Pension by states

The National Union of Pensioners (NUP), has called for uniform implementation of the Contributory Pension Scheme by the 36 states and Abuja.

The National Vice President of the Union in charge of North West, Alhaji Sani Dodo-Iya, made the call in Sokoto on Thursday.

”It is high time the system is implemented uniformly across the country due to its advantages over the pay-as-you-go system in use in most of the states.

”There is usually no adequate budgetary provision for pensioners in most of the states. Some pensioners are receiving paltry N4,000 monthly in some of the states.

”This is due to the non-implementation of the increments made since 1999 ranging from 33, 55 to 150 per cent.”

Dodo-Iya further explained that with the contributory pension scheme, there was more certainty as regard the fate of the workers after retirement.

”While working, your salary is being deducted; and your employer is also making contribution.

”The individual worker is also receiving monthly balances from the Pension Fund Administrators.

”The states can, therefore, adopt the system to suit their various peculiarities”, the NUP official added.

Dodo-Iya said the Nigerian Constitution provides for the upward review of pensions after every five years, even if the national minimum wage was not reviewed upward.

He called for efforts to improve the welfare of pensioners in the country, adding, “pensioners are now in a pathetic situation.

”They can cry, cry and cry and nobody can hear them. The earlier this obnoxious trend is reversed, the better for the pensioners, their families and the nation.”

Dodo-Iya, however, lauded Gov. Aminu Tambuwal for recently paying the backlog of pension arrears and gratuities to pensioners in the state.