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Chuks Udo Okonta
The National Pension Commission (PenCom) has said cumulatively, the sum of ₦884,577,261,000 had been released and remitted as accrued pension rights to 190,158 retirees of treasury funded Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) from inception of Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) to December 31, 2020.
PenCom stated this in its 2020 annual report, adding that during th year, the Federal Government of Nigeria released a total of N65,909,343,247.50 into the RBBRF Account for the payment of Accrued Rights to retirees of Treasury Funded MDAs.
“Consequently, the Commission approved the release/remittance of the entire amount to the RSAs of 11,385 retirees and deceased employees of Treasury Funded MDAs,” it said.
According to PenCom, the Federal Government in January 2021 also released N11.82 billion for payment of accrued pension rights of retirees under its Ministries Department and Agencies (MDAs).
PenCom, in July this year, also notified all its stakeholders, particularly retirees of Treasury-funded Federal Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs), that His Excellency, President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR, has approved Its submission on the payment of some critical aspects of the outstanding pension liabilities of the Federal Government under the Contributory Pension Scheme.
PenCom in a statement said the President approved the payment of outstanding accrued pension rights for verified and enrolled retirees of treasury-funded MDAs that retired, but are yet to be paid their retirement benefits, as well as the back log of death benefits claims due to beneficiaries of deceased employees of treasury funded MDAs.
Also approved according to PenCom was the payment of 2.5 per cent differential in the rate of employer pension contribution for FGN retirees and employees which resulted from the increase in the minimum pension contribution for employers from 7.5 per cent to 10 per cent in line with Section 4(1) of the PRA 2014. Payments for retirees and existing employees would take effect from July 2014.
It is worthy to note that subsequently, the Federal Government of Nigeria is expected to continue with the payment of the 10 per cent rate of employer pension contribution for its employees, thus ensuring a remittance of at least 18 per cent monthly (employer 10 per cent and employee eight per cent) as provided by the PRA 2014, PenCom said.
It said funds have already been made available for the settlement of the above stated pension liabilities. Accordingly, remittance into the various Retirement Savings Accounts (RSAs) of the affected retirees and employees is currently being processed. The affected retirees and employees would be notified in due course by their respective Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs).
According to PenCom, the settlement of the outstanding accrued pension rights of verified and enrolled FGN retirees and compliance with the reviewed rate of pension contributions are significant developments, that have resolved the challenges in these aspects that have lingered since 2014.
The Board and Management of the Commission, reiterated their appreciation to the President for his untiring support and commitment to the implementation of the Contributory Pension Scheme and ensuring welfare of retirees.
