Settle Retirees benefits, Niger Assembly tells Bello.
By Yahaya Zakka Minna.
Niger State House of Assembly has urged the Executive Arm of Government, to as a matter of urgency, consider the payment of benefits to the retirees in the state, to relieved them from the present economic hardship they are experiencing.
This was contained in the resolution of the House after deliberating on the motion moved by Hon. Malik Madaki Bosso, the member representing the Bosso constituency in the House, who urged the House to invite the Director General of the Niger State Pension Board to appear and explain to the House the inconsistencies in the Niger State Retirement Benefits and Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).
Hon. Malik Madaki Bosso raised the motion under the Matter of Urgent Public Importance brought under Order V111, Rule 4 of the Niger State House of Assembly Standing Order, 2019.
Hon. Malik Bosso argued that section 14(2b) of the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 ( as amended) provided that the security and welfare of the people shall be the primary purpose of government, and the new CPS law provided for two class of pensioners, old and the new scheme.
However, civil servants retire every year, the deduction from civil servants’ salaries that contributed to the new CPS has been halted.
He stressed the need to address the uncertainty surrounding the issue of payment of Pension and gratuity for the category of retirees who fall under CPS, adding that even some retirees under the old pension scheme were yet to enjoy their retirement benefits such as gratuity, not even death gratuity to some families who lost their loved ones.
The House then resolved to invite the Director General of Niger State Pension Board to appear before it and explain why there was inconsistencies in payments of retirement benefits.
He then call on the Executive Arm of Government to as a matter of urgency, consider the payment of benefits to the retirees in the state to relieve them from the current economic hardship.
