Contributory Pension Scheme Retirees In Delta State: Pay them before they all die

This write up has become not only necessary but also mandatory so that it can posit itself in the front burner of public discourse. This will enable his Excellency Senator Dr. Ifeanyi Arthur Okowa the Executive Governor of Delta State (a.k.a prosperity for all Deltans) address the issue with all seriousness and urgency it deserves.

When His Excellency was inaugurated as the governor of the oil rich state, several people jubilated for different reasons. For the category of persons who belong to the contributory pension scheme, they were satisfied that there would be continuity in the administration of the state since it was the third leg of the PDP that received the relay baton. The finishing they were sure would be of immense benefit.

This hope and expectations appear to be disappearing faster than a mirage. All visits to the Bureau for pension at Asaba have continued to be a step towards the grave as the programmed findings is always no release of fund yet. Very many of such retirees have often left the office with hypertension, palpitation, frustration and even dizziness. Many who embark on such trips from the nook and crannies of the State have always done so on borrowed transport fares. Needless to state the obvious that some of these retirees left service and regular income since 2011. The worst hit among these groups are those who retired in the year of our Lord 2012. How on earth do you expect an elderly state man/woman who put in all his/her best in the service of his/her father land to survive without any visible means of livelihood? The state they served diligently has condemned them to the dust bin of forgotten homo-sapiens. 

The common causes of their high rate of mortality has always been high blood pressure arising from anxiety from not being paid their entitlement, pressure from landlord, foodstuffs vendors, their inability to keep their children in school and obtaining medical attention for even common cold. The rate of death among these retirees has become so high that one wonders whether the refusal of the state to pay them their hard earned savings is not equivalent to the weapon of mass destruction that we commonly hear in the Iraq/US wars of yester years.

The non-payment has become more infuriating when you realize that the retirees had certain percentage of their income deducted at source by the Government as their own share of their pension when they retire from service. Even these deductions are not domiciled with the Pension Fund Administrators as inquiries to some of the PFA’s always end with the advice that meet your State Government to pay your deductions into the PFA account.

The million naira question is “in whose account are the deductions kept?” Why this man’s inhumanity to man? Why must we allow these retirees to die on daily basis from basic needs when they have actually saved for the rainy day with the Government? This contributory pension was embraced in 2004 to alleviate the pains of our pensioners who were dying under the sun and rain during verification exercises that were meant to delay their payment as well as unveil the billions of naira that were being pilfered by the super directors and permanent secretaries. Who always go to church on Sundays and appear more angelic than the real angels of God?

Today the modus operandi has taken a new look. Pension deductions are not remitted to the appropriate fund and as a result the PFA’S cannot pay retirees. Even though these categories of people have retired from the service, their families still need them. Their communities still need them. Society must be made up of the old and the young. Let them not die prematurely as a result of their not being paid what they have labored for in their 35 years of service to the state.

The plea by this group of persons is that all those directly or indirectly connected with the payment of these fathers and mothers do so for the sake of humanity and fear of God. This special appeal also goes to His Excellency and members of the State Assembly to keep a date with kindness and extend the milk of human kindness to these retirees. The slogan prosperity for ALL DELTANS must not be allowed to end up on BILL BOARDS that adorn every major road in the State and pages of National newspapers. To whom much is given, much is expected. The PDP land slide victory in the State should not be seen as a fluke. Lastly we wish you God’s guidance as you source funds to pay these retires. Their sufferings should end at your table.

Jim Oghenerhoro.

Writes from Sapele.

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