The office of the secretary to the government of the
federation (SGF) and some stakeholders have kicked
against the proposed exemption of paramilitary
organisations from the contributory pension scheme.
Roy Ogor, a representative of Habiba Lawal, acting
SGF, made the position known at the public hearing
organised by the house of representatives committee
on pension.
The committee had organised a public hearing on a
bill to exclude paramilitary personnel and anti-graft
agencies from the contributory pension scheme.
He told the lawmakers that the provision of the
exemption bill contravenes federal government’s
position, so it should be jettisoned.
While noting that status quo should be maintained to
enable the public and private employers meet their 18
percent pension obligations as provided for in the
pension reform act, 2014, Ogor urged the national
assembly to jettison any proposed legislation that
could further compound the socio-economic
predicaments of workers.
He also noted that public and private employees were
currently struggling to comply with the current
contribution of 18 percent as the lingering economic
recession affects both public and private employers.
According to him, rather than the proposed
amendment to the law, the pension reform act has
provision for increase in pension contribution by
employers.
Earlier, Yakubu Dogara, speaker of the house of
representatives, described the pension industry as a
crucial sector that would play a formidable role in the
development of the economy.
“We are conscious of the fact that the pension
industry has become a crucial sector that is playing a
formidable role towards the development of the
economy in terms of availability of huge investment
funds of about N6.4 trillion,” Dogara said.
Also speaking, Ayuba Wabba, president of the Nigerian
Labour Congress (NLC), said the federal government
had in excess N1.6 trillion pension liabilities under the
Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS) when the CPS was
introduced in 2004.
TheCable
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