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We are dying! – Soar narrative of Pensioners’ ordeal

Published

2 years ago

September 16, 2022

By Idibia Gabriel, Kaduna

Life for many pensioners in Nigeria has largely been full of disappointments. Struggles and worries which come from delays and botrlnecks of accessing their gratuities and pension entitlements have seen many falling into unsavoury conditons. Plights of elder citizens struggling to get their entitlements have occasioned narratives of illnesses and untimely death.

This narration is the lamentation of a 63-year old pensioner, who worked with the Kaduna Polytechnic (Kadpoly), Mr. Bala A. Zakka. He made some startling revelation on a number of vexing issues, including alleged 16 years unpaid arrears and balance of their gratuities.

Zakka, in an interview with our Kaduna correspondent also lamented that out of about 700 of them that retired from Kaduna Polytechnic under the reform pension, many have died awaiting in vain for the arrears and balance of their gratuities. He also alleged that the Polytechnic management collected cheques containing certain money for arrears of 24 months, but only paid them 15 months, and nothing is heard of the remaining balance of the nine months till date.

According to him, their colleagues in other Federal Government agencies, including National Eye Centre, collected same amount, and paid out all to the affected pensioners: Excerpts:

Tell us who are you, where you worked, your service years and your complaints?

My name is Bala O. Zakka. I’m 63-yrs-old. I started working in Kaduna Polytechnic 29th November, 1979 to April 2008. I had my last salary in May 2008. I retired in April 2008, under the new pension reform, earning our salaries on counts.

We earn salary on counts but we’re paid our gratuity on Grade Level (GL) instead of the counts. When they came for screening in 2011 with Pension Transition Arrangement and Directorate (PTAD), the Federal government agency handling payment of the pension, they screened us and confirmed in the form of data that the new salary structure is on counts and promised that they’re going to reflect it and pay us the differences of the gratuity.

We waited but nothing came and they came again and conducted another fresh last screening and said we should wait for the arrears, that they’ll pay us our actual differences and implement the counts on our pension. Up till that time and now, the implementation did not take place; they’ve not paid us the differences.

What are the differences?

The differences that i saw in one of the pension office in gazette was about over N400,000. Now, they said we should wait for the payment, that the differences will reflect, but till now nothing has been done. Up till December 2017, when the minister announced that our arrears will be paid and that there’s money for that, in the PTAD, and that everybody will be cleared even within that December, nothing has happened till now. They shifted it to July 2022 to pay, and they said the reason was because the minister re-scheduled it, but till now nothing has been heard again.

On the counts, can you expatiate?

As someone who retired on counts 8.15, I’m supposed to be collecting N66,000, monthly, as the way they give the data. But they slashed it to N56,000. There was 30per cent rise to N61,000. The increase is just N6,000, that’s what I’m earning now, N61,000. This affected all the categories of my colleagues. So, I’m pleading with them to do something for us. We’re stranded. And many of us have lost their lives. We’re still waiting and crying to see that they give us something.

Are you aware of any pensioner(s) who has been paid?

The Immigration, the Warders engaged lawyers at that time, and they were able to pay them their entitlements, with maybe only 6 months remaining.

At the last meeting they had with the national union comprising of army civilian, precisely on 28th – 29th July, this year, they promised to pay us. But there was disagreement between them because PTAD said they want to split the payment to three times. But the union said since it is not every pensioner that is affected, it should be paid at once. Since then, we didn’t hear anything again.

How about your usual monthly pension?

Our usual monthly pension on GL has been running uninterrupted, and we are commending them for that. We’re talking about the arrears and balance of our gratuity. They don’t delay army’s own payment because it is a separate account, but only the civilians are suffering the delay.

You also talked about certain amount of money sent to the Polytechnic authority as arrears, can you explain?

Again, in addition to that, there was certain amount of money sent to our management as arrears around December 2019, about 24 months arrears cheque. The management paid 15 months leaving nine months. Till date, we’ve not seen anything again.

The arrears and balance of gratuity does not affect civilians who retired on their own, only we the reform staff. For instance, while I collected gratuity of N2.3 million – N2.75 million, my colleagues before then collected N6 – N7 million, as gratuity.

How many of the retirees are affected or victims of this shortfall?

Well, the affected numbers of retired staff is 700 from Kadpoly but many have died awaiting the arrears of gratuity and left their family and loved ones suffering.

What do you want to say to the government?

I and my colleagues are appealing to the Federal Government to help and come to our aide. Many of us are dying. No security for farming now. To see the daily bread now is hard. Even though they’ve been trying in monthly payment, let them try more to assist us because it’ll help us to reduce the tension on us because of our responsibilities.

“Affected army representatives reluctantly ate heavy banquet lunch provided for them during the last meeting they had with PTAD on ground that they were not there for such balance diet when their colleagues are suffering. And they were not going to be there for them continuously to eat with their other retired pensioners. All they said they want is their money not eating food there,” Zakka stated.

Contacted, PTAD office in Kaduna staff said the matter is beyond their schedule and directed our correspondent to contact their headquarters in Abuja.

They, however, acknowledged notice of “I’m Alive Verification” being conducted on affected Kaduna Polytechnic pensioners in the State for N200.00 cost of data. Also in the same vain, these allegations were corroborated by the Polytechnic pensioners executive officials when contacted during investigation.

News

Lagos Govt to demolish over 100 shanties under Adeniji Adele bridge today

Published

1 hour ago

May 6, 2024

NewsDirect

By SodiqAdelakun

The Lagos State Government has announced plans to demolish over 100 shanties at Adeniji Adele under bridge, starting from today, May 6, 2024.

This was revealed by the State Commissioner for the Environment and Water Resources, Mr. TokunboWahab, in a statement on Sunday.

According to the Commissioner, the removal of the shanties is part of the state government’s efforts to restore sanity and cleanliness to the area.

Recall that the government had urged occupants of the shanties to vacate the area before the demolition exercise begins, to avoid any disruption or loss of property.

“The Lagos State Government will undertake enforcement action to remove over 100 shanties at Adeniji Adele underbridge from tomorrow, Monday, 6th of May, 2024.

“The removal is coming after the expiration of a 48-hour removal notice served on all occupants of the shanties to move with their belongings,” Wahab stated

He said operatives of the Kick Against Indiscipline and officials from the Monitoring Enforcement and Compliance department of the ministry will be given security backup to conduct the operation.

This exercise, according to him, is part of the commitment of the state government to reclaim all ungoverned spaces that dot the Lagos landscape.

“Apart from the unsanitary conditions of residents in the shanties, it also serves as a hiding place for criminals and points for peddling hard drugs and substances which is injurious to the wellbeing of law-abiding residents.

“Therefore, I advise all the occupants of the shanties in their interest, to voluntarily move out with their belongings before the commencement of the enforcement operations on Monday,” he added.

Lagos State’s Ministry of Environment and Water Resources has successfully carried out another enforcement exercise, this time at Adeniji Adele under bridge, following a similar operation last week in Ikoyi.

During the Ikoyi exercise, an apartment where tenants paid an annual rent of N250,000 was discovered under the Dolphin Estate Bridge.

The enforcement team removed all structures, including a container used for illegal activities, from beneath the bridge.

According to Commissioner for Information, GbengaOmotosho, out of the 450 squatters arrested under the bridge, 371 requested relocation to their various states.

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Forensic Audit seeks return of stolen government funds, not a witch-hunt – Gov Otti

Published

2 hours ago

May 6, 2024

NewsDirect

Gov. Alex Otti of Abia has said that he initiated a forensic audit of the State Government’s account to recover stolen government funds and not to witch-hunt anyone.

Otti said this on Sunday during an interactive session with constituents of Isiala Ngwa South State Constituency, in Nvosi, Isiala Ngwa South Local Government Area.

The governor said that upon assumption of office as governor, he established an audit with the primary objective of recovering stolen government funds and not to send anyone to jail.

He said that the report of the audit revealed that “a lot of money was looted and stolen brazenly” for non-existing projects which include the Abia Airport Project.

“I am looking for the airport for which funds were moved from the coffers of the government for.

“The people concerned with the act of moving the airport project funds in question went to the media and began to say all manner of things.

“If you are following the happenings in the media space, you will see these things there.

“The problem with lying is that when you tell one lie, you will need another one to cover the first lie and need three more lies to cover the second one.

“We are looking for our money and we must find our money.

“If we don’t find the airport, then they will refund our money,” he added.

According to him, the government will not relent in improving the welfare of the citizenry through various progressive initiatives that facilitate socioeconomic growth.

He said that the government was determined to recover the funds and utilise it for the development of the state.

Otti commended the House of Assembly member representing Isiala Ngwa South State Constituency, Mr Roland Chinwendu, for playing “politics of no bitterness”.

“Immediately, after the elections he came to me to make it clear that as the member representing my Constituency, he would work with me to move Abia forward.

“It is worthy of note that he is a member of the Peoples Democratic Party and I commend him for that,” he said.

Earlier, Chinwendu said that the emergence of Otti as the governor was an indication that the citizens desire good governance.

“The elections are long over and I was elected to deliver effective representation and not elected to play politics of opposition or bitterness.

“We have a governor whose dictum is practical government and good governance and I have no reason not to identify with him,” he said.

He assured the governor of the unalloyed support of his constituents and urged him to extend his infrastructural development to every part of the constituency.

Also, a Chieftain of the Labour Party, Senator Darlington Nwokocha, commended the lawmaker for reaching beyond party affiliations to support the Labour Party-led government in Abia.

He said that the present administration was poised to reposition the state through governance.

In an interview, Mr Henry Ori, Leader of the Ebubedike Movement for PDP in Nvosi Ward 5, said that the programmes and policies of the present administration were development-oriented.

“It is for this reason that we are here to show solidarity and support as well as encourage the governor to sustain the good works,” Ori said.

News

Aliko Dangote Foundation tasks faith leaders on malnutrition, hunger in Nigeria

Published

2 hours ago

May 6, 2024

NewsDirect

The Aliko Dangote Foundation (ADF) has underscored the pivotal role of religious and traditional institutions in tackling the pressing issues of malnutrition and hunger within Nigeria. Speaking at an event organised by the National Council on Nutrition and the World Bank-Assisted Accelerating Nutrition Results in Nigeria Project, Mrs. Zouera Youssoufou, the Managing Director/Chief Executive Officer of Aliko Dangote Foundation, emphasised the significance of faith-based groups in the national agenda for improving nutrition and human capital development in Nigeria.

During the high-level dialogue on nutrition at the Presidential Villa in Abuja, themed ‘Faith Leaders as Catalysts for Enhanced Human Capital Through Nutrition,’ Mrs. Youssoufou highlighted that nutrition goes beyond mere sustenance; it is about nurturing the body, mind, and spirit. She emphasised that adequate nutrition forms the cornerstone of human capital development.

Mrs. Youssoufou painted a grim picture of the situation in Nigeria, where malnutrition significantly hampers the nation’s progress. She pointed out that children are particularly vulnerable, suffering from stunted growth, cognitive impairments, and increased susceptibility to diseases due to inadequate nutrition.

She stressed that malnutrition’s consequences extend beyond physical health to affect educational achievements, economic productivity, and overall well-being. Urgent and concerted action from all sectors of society is imperative to address this crisis.

Mrs. Youssoufou highlighted the unique position of faith leaders, with their grassroots reach and influence, in driving positive change in nutrition.

She said their teachings on compassion, justice, and stewardship can inspire individuals to prioritise good nutrition, support vulnerable populations, and advocate for policies promoting food security.

By leveraging the collective power of faith communities, Mrs. Youssoufou proposed fostering a culture of health and wellness that values nutritious diets, breastfeeding, and access to essential nutrients. She suggested educational programs, awareness campaigns, and community engagement to empower individuals to make informed dietary choices.

Moreover, she emphasised the role of faith leaders as advocates for policy changes to address systemic barriers to good nutrition, such as food insecurity and inequitable access to healthcare services.

She added that by advocating for greater investment in nutrition-sensitive programs, they can create an enabling environment for improving health outcomes nationwide.

The dialogue aimed to facilitate the sharing of insights, best practices, and innovative solutions among faith leaders to drive progress in nutrition and human capital enhancement in Nigeria.

It called for unity transcending religious divides to work towards a healthier, more prosperous nation.

The host of the event, Vice President Kashim Shettima, stressed the indispensable role of faith and traditional leaders in improving nutrition within their communities.

“Your influence is indispensable. We believe that, regardless of the quality of ideas we bring to the table, our efforts will fall short without your participation and endorsement,” he said.

The VP stressed that Nigeria’s future readiness hinges not just on food abundance but on the nourishing quality of its food supply.

“We must proclaim to the world that our commitment to producing food of unparalleled richness is not rhetoric,” Shettima declared, noting that “this gathering is a solemn pledge to safeguard our well-being and preserve the legacy of generations yet to come.”

He restated President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to prioritizing nutrition as part of Nigeria’s food security drive.

Earlier, the Minister of Budget and Economic Planning, Atiku Bagudu, said malnutrition and related challenges have over the years negatively impacted human capital development, requiring accelerated interventions.

The Minister described the efforts and interventions of the National Economic Council (chaired by the Vice President) and the engagement with faith-based leaders as testimonies that Nigeria has the institutional mechanism to combat hunger and malnutrition with their associated challenges.

On his part, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, said the engagement with faith-based leaders was not just a dialogue but a clarion call for action to address one of society’s most disturbing challenges.

Prof. Pate called on religious and traditional leaders in Nigeria to leverage their network and influence in society to support the government in combating hunger and malnutrition, describing faith-based leaders as the backbone of their communities, hence their importance in improving the nutritional outcomes in their various domains.

The Sultan of Sokoto, Muhammadu Sa’ad Abubakar III, and the President of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Dr. Daniel Okoh, pledged the commitment of their communities and congregations to the efforts to combat hunger and malnutrition in the country, stating that their presence at the event underscored their loyalty to the campaign.