Some former employees of the defunct NEPA and PHCN on Friday protested at Tafawa Balewa Square, Lagos, demanding the payment of outstanding pension arrears, gratuities and other entitlements they said had remained unpaid for years.
The pensioners, under the aegis of Concerned NEPA/PHCN Pensioners, called on the Federal Government to intervene in the matter, alleging that some retirees had suffered shortfalls in their terminal benefits and were yet to receive payments arising from pension harmonisation, monetisation and other entitlements.
Speaking during the protest, the group’s Lead Coordinator, Mr Murtala Dunmoye, said some members who retired in 2000 had their terminal emoluments calculated with a 42 per cent shortfall, which he said had affected their pensions and gratuities.
Dunmoye said the pensioners were also demanding the payment of outstanding arrears linked to the harmonisation of pensions, monetisation and other benefits due to them after years of service.
He said only about 3,000 pensioners had received monetisation payments out of more than 4,000 retirees who were qualified for the payment.
According to him, some pensioners who retired before 2003 were still waiting for outstanding payments relating to the harmonisation of their benefits.
Dunmoye said the affected pensioners had repeatedly engaged relevant authorities over the issues but had yet to receive a satisfactory resolution.
He appealed to the Federal Government to intervene and ensure that all outstanding entitlements were properly calculated and paid to the affected retirees.
Also speaking, another pensioner, Mr Julius Ayodeji, said some retirees had been informed that funds were released to the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate for the payment of accrued arrears.
Ayodeji said the pensioners were told that the payments would begin in June and continue until December.
He, however, said some of the amounts paid to pensioners did not match what they expected based on their entitlements.
Ayodeji, who retired as a manager in 2000, said he received less than N1 million, while some of his juniors who retired around the same period received higher amounts.
He said he had written to PTAD over the disparity but had yet to receive a response.
The pensioners therefore urged the Federal Government to review their claims, address the alleged discrepancies and ensure that the appropriate entitlements were paid.
However, a source at PTAD, who spoke on condition of anonymity, said the protesters were not affiliated with any of the recognised unions representing electricity-sector workers and pensioners.
The source said the group was not an officially recognised union but added that its claims would be presented to the appropriate authorities on Monday.
The source stressed that the comments did not constitute an official response from PTAD.
