The House of Representatives on Wednesday asked the Federal Government to respect the constitution and carry out a prompt review of the pensions for old retirees, whose earnings have remained the same for about 15 years now.
Section 173(3) of the 1999 constitution states that the government shall conduct such reviews every “five years or together with any federal civil service salary reviews, whichever comes earlier.” But Nigerians who retired as early as 1996 still receive the same amount they took 14 years ago.
For state workers who retired before 1999, their packages are computed every month with contributions from the state and federal governments respectively. Those who have had increased pay, have earned same, from reviews done by the state governments.
A former school principal in Ekiti State, who retired in 2000 at a pay scale of level 16, draws the same N18,000 he was paid nine years back from the federal contribution; and with only a supplement from the state that takes his pay up to N42, 000 monthly.
Worse still, this category of pensioners are not covered by the new pension scheme which guarantees a renewal of pension rates, since they had left the government service before the past administration of Olusegun Obasanjo which initiated the scheme.
Some representatives who spoke on the issue said the Federal Government has refused to implement the content of the law over many years, and has left many retirees with a monthly pay that has gradually become irrelevant and unrealistic.
Stuck with peanuts
“There are permanent secretaries who are paid N50, 000 as pension and it has been like that since 1999. It is not realistic and this motion was sponsored because of complaints I have been getting form various pensioners,” said Mohammed Ndume, the Minority Leader, who raised the motion for discussion and adoption.
Mr. Ndume said he was personally worried that the government seems not to be bothered by the condition of the old workers who dedicated their service to the country in various capacities.
Between 1999 and date, the government has effected federal civil service salary reviews twice. Yet the government has made no increment on the package of the retirees, the members said.