New minimum wage increment to be reflected in old pension scheme— FG

The Federal Government has approved the adjustment in pensions of retirees under the defined benefit pension scheme arising from the implementation of the New National Minimum Wage Act 2019.

In an interview with newsmen on Friday, Mr Ekpo Nta, Acting Chairman, National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) said the approval would take effect from April 18, 2019.

The circular from the NSIWC on Thursday noted that pensioners who retired on Grade Level 17 on CONPSS would receive a new monthly pension of N188,688.49, representing a nine per cent increase.

Grade level 16 retirees would receive N154,576.39, while those on level 15 would get N123,964.72, both also representing a nine per cent increase.

The grade levels representing a 10 per cent increase are 14 with N92,194.53; 13 with N84110.56; 12 with 76,604.35; and 10 with N68,114.13.

Levels nine and eight are both with a twelve per cent increase representing N59,570.18 and 50,520.68 respectively.

For level seven, a 14 per cent increase is recorded representing N40,934.64 while level six is a 42 per cent increase representing N37,242.21.

Levels five to one recorded increases of 51 per cent, 55 per cent, 57 per cent, 58 per cent and 59 per cent, each level representing N32,49146, N29,179.14, N26.942.50, N25,239.45 and N23,426.17.

The difference in increment ranged from the highest which is N15,579.78 to the lowest of N8,692.83.

It further noted that President Muhammadu Buhari had approved the consequential adjustment in pensions of retirees, under the defined benefit scheme consequent to the implementation of the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act 2019.

It pointed out that agencies on the following salary structures would be affected.

They are Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure (CONPSS); Consolidated Research and Allied Institutions Salary Structure (CONRAISS); Consolidated Tertiary Institutions Salary Structure (CONTISS II); and Consolidated University Academic Salary Structure (CONUASS II).

Others are Consolidated Tertiary Educational Salary Structure (CONTEDISS); Consolidated Polytechnics and Colleges of Education Academic Salary Structure (CONPCASS); Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS); and Consolidated Medical Structure (CONMESS).

The rest are Consolidated Intelligence Community Salary Structure (CONICSS); Consolidated Armed Forces Salary Structure (CONAFSS); Consolidated Police Salary Structure (CONPOSS); and Consolidated Paramilitary Salary Structure (CONPASS).

Nta said the review would not affect workers and pensioners on the contributory pension scheme and added that payments would be effected immediately.

“This review is addressing those on the old pension scheme which is the defined pension scheme.

“We would not have sent out the circular if we did not have the ability to look at the cost implications.

“When such decisions are arrived at, it is not done alone with the National Salaries, Wages and Income Commission. It is done in collaboration with the budget office, the Pension Transition Administration Department (PTAD).

“It is the organisation responsible for everybody on the old pension scheme until the last person on the scheme passes on. It is a transitional arrangement set up by law.

“We have been anticipating this approval to come in and PTAD, that had always been in the picture, had made arrangements for the availability of funds and I can assure you, based on what we discussed with them, they are ready to go,” he said.

The acting chairman explained that the conditions of the contributory pension scheme were different from the defined scheme.

“The difference is the workers that are on the contributory scheme are contributing towards their pension in later years when they finally leave the service or retire.

“They have a portion they are contributing and the government is also contributing a percentage.

“The way it is arranged under this new pension scheme the worker can actually take out extra insurance to cover himself or herself and his or her family in arrangement with their Pension Fund Administrator.”

He advised that those agencies did not fall under the recognised consolidated salary structures to get in touch with the commission.

He also said the constitution stated that workers’ salaries be reviewed every five and earlier, if the federal government so decides.

Nta further encouraged Nigerians to regularly visit the websites of the NSIWC, PTAD and the Pensions Commission for accurate information.