Tag: Nigeria

The Director-General of the National Pension Commission, Mrs Aisha Dahiru-Umar, has blamed the culture of impunity as one of the major reasons that is making employers to refuse remittances of pension deductions of their employees under the Contributory Pension Scheme.

She made the disclosure in a book authored by her titled “Fighting for the future: Nigeria’s pension reform journey”

In the 173-page book, a copy of which was made available to THE WHISTLER, she narrated the turning point in the pension industry, the policy pillars of the industry, the pushbacks she faced when she was acting DG of PenCom and after her confirmation, the media war she contended with, how she managed stakeholders in the pension, success stories of the industry and how she confronted the challenges faced by her administration.

The Pension Reform Act makes it mandatory for remittances to be made into the Retirement Savings Account of workers under the Contributory Pension Scheme.

The minimum rate of contribution is 18 per cent of the employee’s monthly emoluments where 10 per cent is contributed by the employer and 8 per cent is contributed by the employee.

But many employers of labour have been violating the provisions of the law, blaming the current harsh economic condition being experienced in the country.

Dahir-Umar in her book noted that the infractions are damaging contributors’ confidence and impacting negatively on the pension industry.

She said the Commission have been taking administrative and legal actions against violators as appropriate, adding that from the inception of the CPS, over N20bn has been recovered from employers who deducted monthly pensions from staff salaries without remitting to their RSAs.

She said, “We also have to protect contributors from employers who default in pension remittance. This is a big issue. Some employers are in the habit of deducting employees’ contributions without remitting to the PFCs, in addition to failing to remit their own contributions.

“These are infractions that damage contributors’ confidence and impact negatively on the Pension Industry. On a regular basis, we go on recovery missions, using the legal instruments at our disposal by engaging recovery agents to make the employers fulfil these obligations.

“We take administrative and legal actions against them as appropriate. From the inception of the CPS, we have recovered over N20bn from employers who deducted monthly pensions from staff salaries without remitting to their RSAs.

“This sordid practice was double jeopardy for the employee. It is as good as not having a pension at all. Why would you deduct without remitting, much less making your own matching contributions?

“There are enough laws and measures to deal with this infraction, but some employers are notorious. Some of their excuses would appear genuine on the surface: economic challenges.

“They paint the picture that the option is to lay off the workers in order to be able to balance the books, but even when the economy was not going through a rough weather, the practice of non-remittance was still common. There was an avalanche of complaints against employers over non-remittance of pension contributions, the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) pension payment, other benefits and pension payment under the pension transitional arrangement.

“Some of the employers are not used to doing things the right way. It is borne out of a culture of impunity. Some business owners and shareholders would first make themselves comfortable before thinking of the future of the employees.”

The PenCom DG said the Commission has been issuing demand notices to the defaulting employers as provided for under Section 11 of the PRA 2004.

The section states that. “An employer who fails to deduct or remit the contributions within the time stipulated in subsection (3) (b) of this section shall, in addition to making the remittance already due, be liable to a penalty to be stipulated by the Commission.

“The penalty referred to in subsection (6) of this section shall not be less than 2 percent of the total contribution that remains unpaid for each month or part of each month the default continues and the amount of the penalty shall be recoverable as a debt owed to the employee’s retirement savings account, as the case may be.”

Dahir-Umar explained further that the Commission has also engaged recovery agents to establish the outstanding contributions, adding that from inception to 30 June 2023, it has recovered contributions of N12.80bn and imposed penalties of N12bn.

“Before slamming the hard penalties, we deploy our soft powers which are always effective. We usually wait for the defaulting organisations when they apply for Pension Clearance Certificate (PCC), which is critical to some of them as the certificate is important for other regulatory clearances and their business undertakings.

“We turn down applications down owing to non-remittance of pension contributions for the appropriate period and/or non-provision of Group Life Insurance policy for their staff,” she added.

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A secret letter written by one of the personal lawyers of Nnamdi Kanu on his behalf has revealed a shift in the demand of the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB).

The undated letter, a copy of which is in possession of THE WHISTLER, was written on behalf of the IPOB leader by one of his lawyers (name withheld) who is working behind the scenes along with others to ensure his release from detention.

Kanu has been in the custody of the Department of State Services (DSS) since June 27, 2021, when he was reportedly arrested in Kenya and brought to Nigeria to face a terrorism trial.

He was initially arrested on 14th October 2015 on an 11-count charge bordering on terrorism, treasonable felony, managing an unlawful society, publication of defamatory matter, illegal possession of firearms and improper importation of goods, among others.

After securing bail, he reportedly fled the country and didn’t appear in court again until he was located and brought back to Nigeria to continue his trial.

But on 13th October, the Court of Appeal in Abuja quashed the charges against him after a three-man panel led by Justice Jummai Hanatu said it was satisfied that the federal government flagrantly violated international laws when it forcefully rendered Kanu from Kenya to Nigeria for the continuation of his trial.

The appellate court subsequently discharged and acquitted him of all charges against him pending at the Federal High Court in Abuja.

But the court refused to make an order on the proscription of IPOB by the lower court.

However, the FG refused to let Kanu off the hook and immediately issued a statement saying Kanu was only discharged by the Court of Appeal but not acquitted.

A statement by the then Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, said the court’s decision was on the single issue of rendition, stressing that there were other issues predating Kanu’s rendition for which he allegedly jumped bail.

He said they were “valid issues for judicial determination” which the government would continue to pursue.

But in the letter which was not addressed to anyone in particular, the lawyer stated that Kanu is ready to support a “consensual return of the country to federal constitutional governance because Nigeria is a heterogeneous country with over 350 ethnic nationalities…”

The letter stated that Kanu had always wanted restructuring of the country into a true federation but was pushed into demanding a referendum on Biafra because of opposition to restructuring by the political establishment in the country.

“That on the 30th of August 2017, at a peace meeting with the South East Governors, my client proposed to quieten the agitation for twelve (12) months, if the authorities would kick start consensual restructuring of the country along lines of true federalism and devolution of powers preferably something akin to 1960 and 1963 constitution respectively.

“But surprisingly, on the eve of the scheduled follow up meeting on the 14th of September 2017, a violent attack was carried out by Joint Armed Forces on his family house at Afara Ukwu, Abia State, whereby scores were killed, forcing him to escape for his dear life” the letter stated.

Kanu said he remains committed to his earlier position about restructuring and would be willing to drop his agitation for Biafra once there are clear signs that the country is taking necessary steps in that regard.

The letter further stated that, “The decision to stand on restructuring the country back to federal constitutional governance was strengthened by the fact that the vast majority of the citizens of this country have consistently and clearly expressed their desire to restructure the country along the lines of true federalism and devolution of powers.

“Moreover, great elder statesmen such as Dr Alex Ekweme, Chief Emeka Anyoku, Chief Mbazulike Amechi, Dr Dozie Ikedife, Archbishops Anthony Obinna and Maxwell Anikwenwa, Prof Ben Nwabueze etc convinced my client to stand on restructuring rather than secession.”

The letter said Kanu now believes that a return to federal constitutional governance will hasten the development of the country and enable it to provide leadership for the black race.

But whether Kanu will be able to persuade his supporters and others who still believe in Biafra to embrace restructuring of the country into a true federation remains to be seen.

A statement issued by Emma Powerful, spokesman of IPOB, on Saturday said the group was bent on secession.

“We the global family and movement of IPOB wish to reiterate once again that IPOB remains peaceful and open for negotiations and dialogue on peaceful exit of Biafra from Nigeria through a UN supervised Referendum, “the statement said while claiming IPOB had lost over 5,000 members with properties worth over $1bn as a result of the extreme use of force from the Nigeria Security Forces.

“The group said events from 1948 to 2023 have shown that “it is practically impossible for Biafra and Nigeria to coexist as one nation. IPOB has been calling on the Nigeria State for discussions on a peaceful referendum date, but the Nigeria State always returns the peaceful call with violent suppression. We have always maintained that self-determination is our inalienable right according to the UN laws.”

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A former member of the House of Representatives, Robinson Uwak has blamed poor data gathering and implementation as part of the reasons poverty alleviation programmes of the federal government have allegedly failed in Nigeria.

In a statement on Sunday, Robinson Uwak added that the high level of poverty and gross inequality being witnessed in Nigeria are signs that the poverty alleviation of the government has not worked.

The ex-lawmaker said the development constitutes a threat to the country’s security, stability and unity.

Uwak however commended President Bola Tinubu for equitable distribution of resources despite the global economic crisis.

He said for poverty alleviation to work out, it ” ought to be treated as a development policy, not a charity project”.

The ex-lawmaker maintained that a collective action by relevant stakeholders is needed “to tackle it.”

Uwak added, “Nigeria is in 2023 adjudged the country with the highest poverty rate in the world with 71 million people living in extreme poverty while 133 million of the country 214 million people living in multidimensional poverty, according to the World Poverty Clock and the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS).”

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Following ongoing efforts to evacuate refuse heaps that recently submerged the university community of Nsukka in Enugu State, residents have demanded designated dumps where they can dispose their refuse.

THE WHISTLER reported that the ambience of the community became a thing of the past in recent weeks following the non-evacuation of refuse heaps across the area.

The failure of the local government authorities to carry out their responsibilities led to overflooding of various road arteries of Nsukka as refuse was washed away by recent rains, blocking the drainages in the process.

A resident Kenneth Okpe said, “The LG authorities have started evacuating the heaps dotted indiscriminately, especially in the middle of Enugu Road, and by the banks of many roads. It took almost a month before the evacuation resumed. It was disgusting.”

A tailor, Ifeanyi, said, “We wouldn’t want a repeat of what happened. Many shops closed because the refuse submerged their shops.”

A health officer, Nkechi Omeye, suggested the way out. According to her, “If the middle of roads is to be designated refuse dumps, which to me is unusual, let the evacuation be more regular. The outlook of a place defines their values. Our leaders should be up and doing.

“I hear that a task force is arresting people who want to drop refuse at places not designated for that. But the authorities have not told us where we can dump the refuse. With the way they go about it, it will be more indiscriminate because many can choose to dump theirs at gutters in the night.”

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The Director-General of the National Pension Commission Aisha Dahiru-Umar, has revealed the many battles she faced while implementing series of reforms in the Nigerian pension industry.

She made the disclosure in a book authored by her titled “Fighting for the future: Nigeria’s pension reform journey”

In the 173 page book, a copy of which was made available to THE WHISTLER, she also narrated the turning point in the pension industry, the policy pillars of the industry, the pushbacks she faced when she was acting DG of Pencom and after her confirmation, the media war she contended with, how she managed stakeholders in the pension, success stories of the industry and how she confronted the challenges faced by her administration.

Dahir-Umar explained that the mistake which reform agents must avoid is assuming that because a policy is good and the benefits are there for all to see, then everybody will embrace it and become its advocate.

According to her, in every reform, there are always gradients of reactions and attitudes among the stakeholders because some will “lose” and some will “gain”.

She recalled how some blackmailers hiding under a Civil Society Organisation attempted to blackmail her with frivolous allegations.

Dahir-Umar explained in the book that while some heads of government agencies would have panicked and succumbed to the wishes of the blackmailers, she stood her grounds and refused to be intimidated.

Rather, she said the claims made by her blackmailers made her to continue to put in her best to ensure that the reforms being implemented in the pension industry under her watch was never derailed.

According to the Pencom DG, it is more complicated for the reform agents when what is regarded
as a “loss” by the opponents of reform is really not a loss but rather a different way of assessing what should be considered as a “gain”.

She said, “Those opposed to the reform may try to throw away the baby with the bathwater.

Despite the glaring successes of the pension reform, there has been one pushback or the other.

“There are usually insiders working with outsiders and extortion is often the ultimate goal. The outsiders are in some of the so-called anti-corruption NGOs — many of them run by one or two hustlers who are available for hire by aggrieved parties.

It is a huge racket. “They take a document that says virtually nothing and cast it as evidence of impropriety through twisted interpretations. They cook up a petition to blackmail you into negotiating a ransom, otherwise they will threaten to hold a “World Press Conference” to disparage you.

“They threaten to submit the spurious petition to the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission
(EFCC), the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) or some legislative committee.

“For the blackmail to be effective, there must be a media outlet to give it oxygen. That is if the media outlet itself is not the orchestrator of the blackmail. Some of these fraudsters masquerading as anti-corruption agents have their own media outlets, mostly online, or they go into partnership with some journalists with whom they share the ransom.

“Many times, the blackmail works. Some agency heads panic and succumb. Some are guilty and would do anything to kill the story.

They fall into the hands of the blackmailers who are never satisfied because extortion is what they do for a living.

She added, “Some public officers may not be guilty of the allegations but fall for the bait all the same
and offer financial inducements just to avoid the embarrassment of negative media.

“Some Agency heads told me how they had been held captive by websites that specialise in blackmail and extortion. To them, they had to tag along because they were dealing with a bull in a China shop.

“For me, I was determined never to be blackmailed. There is a cynical circle of insiders and outsiders all
interested in extortion rather than anti-corruption. How can the full-time job of anybody be petition-writing and holding “World Press Conferences”?

“When you discover that some of the full-time anti-corruption campaigners are sending their children to school abroad and building mansions in choice areas of Abuja and Lagos, you know something is not right. There are too many of them on the loose.

“There were too many half-truths and outright lies. I believed I would be wasting my time trying to engage with the blackmailers.

“There were so many of them coming at me from different angles, most of them doing the bidding of those who never wanted me to be DG of PenCom in the first place.

“When I was nominated as the substantive DG of the Commission in 2020, I came under fire in sections of the media as some faceless groups began to attack me on a regular basis.

“First, they said I was a Northerner and that the Southerner who was there before me did not complete her tenure. Therefore, I was not qualified to be DG in their own books.

“A body calling itself “Pension Reform Advocacy Group” petitioned the Senate to kick against my confirmation. Senator Enyinnaya Abaribe, then Minority Leader, also said my appointment would contradict federal character.

“For me, I was not really bothered because appointments are at the discretion of the President. If he did not nominate me, I could not have nominated myself. There are enough appointments to go round if the real interest is federal character.

‘Second, there were many irrational insinuations being circulated about me. The federal character argument was even a decent one, although weak. I was being cast as a novice who was not suitable
for the job, yet I was a pioneer member of staff of the Commission in 2005. I rose through the ranks to become a General Manager.

“This is to say nothing about the fact that I was the Secretary of the Pension Reform Committee that birthed the Commission in 2004. It was clear to me from the fierce and desperate media attacks
that I was not going to have a fair hearing. I really did not know there were so many vested interests in matters regarding PenCom until I was nominated for the top job.”

The PenCom DG described the opposition to her nomination as a “blessing in disguise” because it prepared her for what was ahead.

She wrote in the book, “It (opposition” toughened me up. After my appointment was confirmed, I started facing regular attacks from the purpose-built NGOs and media outlets. Many of the attackers would later confess privately that they were sponsored.

“They named names. When some were questioned by the security agencies for writing threatening letters to me, they disclosed how much they were paid, usually in dollars, to do the hatchet job.

“One of them confessed to being given money to recruit protesters, lodge them in hotels on the outskirts of Abuja, bus them to the city, occupy the premises of PenCom and declare that they would not leave until I was fired by the President.

“These were the ‘anti-corruption activists’ who took over the pages of newspapers maligning me all the time.”

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