Pensioners appeal to PenCom over unpaid increment

Pensioners under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) have appealed to the National Pension Commission (PenCom) to implement their 15 percent and 33 percent pension increment and other benefits.
The Contributory Pensioners Union of Nigeria (CPUN), South West Zone, made the appeal on Tuesday during a peaceful protest held in Ibadan.
The CPUN President, Mr Joseph Idowu, said that PenCom was yet to implement the increment since 2007 and 2010 despite various promises.
Idowu said that their counterparts under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS) had been enjoying the increment through the proactive stand of Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD).
“The new consequential adjustment in pension due to the latest increase in workers’ salaries and wages are also being enjoyed by pensioners under DBS, neglecting the CPS pensioners.
” No CPS pensioners have received any interest on their accrued benefits since 2007 till date.
” We require your urgent attention to ensure that arrears on this are calculated and paid at the Federal government official rate as at the time of retirement,” Idowu said.
The president said that his members are suffering as some of them collect as low as N3,000 as their monthly pension which was not accepted.
Idowu said that his members are not also happy with the delay in the payment of their retirement benefits which the commission now paid after one year of retirement contrary to PRA Act 2004 (Amended).
He said that section 16 (5) of PRA Act 2004 says pensioners should be paid not more than three months after retirement.
Idowu, however, commended the commission for prompt payment of their monthly pension and urged them to priotise welfare of pensioners under the CPS.