Nigeria Labour Congress don warn Federal Government say dem go do nationwide strike if dem no return wetin dem talk say na billions of naira wey dem collect from workers insurance money. NLC still talk say make government fix the leadership wahala wey dey inside the pension regulatory commission within one week.
NLC accuse Federal Government say dem carry 40 percent of the money wey workers dey contribute to Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) enter national treasury. This fund na from workers salary wey dem dey deduct, and e suppose help workers if dem get injury or lose job.
But National Pension Commission (PenCom) talk say the Contributory Pension Scheme still dey safe and e dey grow well, say the talk of missing money no true.
NLC President Joe Ajero talk say the Central Working Committee vex well well say Federal Government dey violate workers social protection rights by diverting 40 percent of their contribution enter government pocket, which no follow the law wey create NSITF.
Labour talk say this kain move dey against the law and e don remove the safety net wey NSITF suppose be. Dem talk say pension money na workers future salary, no be government money, and if government still put hand again, dem go strike.
Dem still blast government say dem never appoint board for PenCom, and na only administration dey control billions of retirement money. Labour talk say this kain vacuum fit cause mismanagement and political wahala inside pension matter.
This gbege dey happen as pension wahala dey spread for different parts of the country. For July, labour unions for Ogun State give government 72 hours to stop new pension plan, say dem never pay 17 years backlog wey reach over N82 billion. Dem talk say make government go back to old pension system or wait till dem clear the debt.
For the communiqué, NLC talk say NSITF must return all the money wey dem divert within seven working days, and PenCom must give full report of pension money and appoint Governing Board within that same time. If government no do wetin dem talk, NLC say dem no fit guarantee peace again, and strike plus protest fit start.
As PenCom respond to wetin Labour talk, the Head of Corporate Communications, Ibrahim Buwal, yarn say na Federal Government suppose appoint Governing Board, no be PenCom matter.
He talk say, “The board matter no concern agency; na Federal Government get that one, so we no fit talk anything about am.” He still add say PenCom dey look into the NLC communiqué.
On top pension money safety, Buwal talk say the Contributory Pension Scheme still dey kampe and e dey grow well. “The way pension money dey grow steady show say the money dey safe, because people dey contribute regularly and the investment dey bring profit,” he yarn.
He talk say people wey dey contribute dey get monthly or quarterly statement for their Retirement Savings Account, and he stress say, “Nobody money miss. I fit confirm say no pension money under CPS don miss.”
Meanwhile, Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association (NECA) don tell Federal Government make dem reconstitute PenCom Governing Board as Pension Reform Act talk.
NECA Director-General, Adewale-Smatt Oyerinde, talk say, “Na wetin the Act talk be that. If dem no do am, na violation be that. Since this government dey follow due process and respect rule of law, we dey expect make dem do the correct thing.”
He still talk say, “Dem suppose form the board. E dey important. For pension matter, na only two people dey involved, employers and workers. Na dem dey contribute. So NLC and NECA na the main stakeholders. If dem don talk say make dem form the board, we believe say the president go do wetin suppose.”
Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) don talk say dem never give any official reply to the seven-day ultimatum wey NLC issue about the wahala of workers contribution wey dem say government divert, and the fact say PENCOM board never dey.
Manager wey dey handle Actuaries, Planning and Research for NSITF, Emmanuel Ulayi, talk this one during phone call with our reporter for Abuja. He talk say, “No official response yet.”
As dem try reach the Head of Corporate Affairs for NSITF, Alexandra Mede, she no dey available. When reporter send her text message, she reply say she dey hospital.
