The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun and the Minister of Budget and National Planning Sen. Udoma Udo Udoma have briefed the House of Representatives at its plenary session on Thursday, April 6th 2017 on measures the Federal Government has taken to address the pension challenges in the country.
During the briefing, Mrs. Adeosun informed Members that the President, Muhammadu Buhari had set up a Reconciliation Committee charged with the responsibility of resolving the non-payment of pension arrears to beneficiaries. She noted that the Ministry of Finance had released the sum of N22billion for the payment of all outstanding gratuities, pursuant to the Committee’s findings on delayed payment of pensioners.
Presenting his submissions, Sen. Udoma mentioned that the National Pension Commission had presented a proposal detailing the number of Civil Servants that will mandatorily retire in 2017 in addition to those who had retired but are yet to receive their benefits and the amount of monies required to fund these separate categories of pensioners . According to him, the details would be presented to the President before submissions would be made to the National Assembly for approval.
Prior to the briefing, it would be recalled that at the House plenary session of Thursday, March 30th 2017, Hon. Hassan Adamu Shekarau (APC: Kaduna) and 5 other Members had moved a motion under matters of urgent public importance highlighted the unbearable challenges facing Nigerian Pensioners after which the House of Representatives adopted a resolution inviting the Ministers for briefing.
Other Executives present at the briefing included the Director General of PENCOM, Mrs. Chinelo Anohu-Amazu, Executive Secretary of Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), Barr. Sharon Ikeazor and Executive Officers of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners.
