The Federal
Government has cleared pension arrears amounting N54 billion for the year 2014,
2015 and 2016. The Minister of Finance, Mrs. Kemi Adeosun who
disclosed this in
Abuja, Wednesday, said that N41. 5 has been paid National Pension Commission
(PENCOM) for onward payment to the retirees, who retired under the Contributory
Pension Scheme
She also
announced that the sum of N12.5 billion being outstanding for January, February
and March 2017 has been settled based on 2016 appropriation.
“Despite
conflicting demands for available cash, President Muhammadu Buhari has always
expressed concern about the plight of workers and pensioners. Consistent with
this, we have released N41.5 billion which clears the arrears inherited from
the previous administration relating to the period 2013-15 and underpayments in
2016.
This will bring relief to thousands of our elders who have served and
deserve to be paid their entitlements promptly and fully,” Mrs. Adeosun said.
She added, “the amount we paid includes arrears and the impact is that those
who retired as far back as 2013, who had been unable to access pension under
the contributory scheme due to non payment, will now be paid.”
To avoid future
accumulation of pension arrears, Mrs. Adeosun assured that henceforth “the
monthly allocation to the PENCOM based on the appropriation of 2017 will
regularly be paid along with monthly salaries of Ministries, Departments and Agencies
(MDAs).”
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