Giving priority to pensioners’ welfare in Kano
The case of Kano State pensioners deserves the attention of political leaders in the state. Many of these pensioners owed by the government have unmet needs, ranging from housing, education to health. The worst thing is that sometimes even the survivors of a deceased pensioner are subjected to unwarranted hardships before getting their predecessor’s benefits. […]
The case of Kano State pensioners deserves the attention of political leaders in the state. Many of these pensioners owed by the government have unmet needs, ranging from housing, education to health. The worst thing is that sometimes even the survivors of a deceased pensioner are subjected to unwarranted hardships before getting their predecessor’s benefits. In the meantime, however, the government gives priority to projects like rail lines that look, from all indications, to earn political prestige. The question is: should a single rail project costing a fortune of public funds be given priority over the welfare of pensioners?
The lot of pensioners in Nigeria leaves much to be desired, despite the introduction of the 2004 Pension Reform Act. At present, many state governments owe staggering amounts to pensioners in terms of pension arrears, death benefits and gratuities. Even though Kano State government is said to be among states with the least burden of debts, nonetheless, the fact that the state is owing an insignificant amount (about N12 billion) compared to the huge amount (about N 9.0 trillion/$1.85 billion) earmarked for public projects like the proposed light rail line is amazing.
Scarcity of public resources makes it essential to balance resource-utilization to ensure that the most pressing needs of the public are met so that the public receives value for money from government spending. Indeed, from the perspective of public financial management (PFM) principles, the need for an effective allocation of governmental resources to different sectors, programmes and projects cannot be over-emphasized. This ought to be within a realistic budget and in a manner that ensures overall development outcomes. Choosing between settling outstanding pensioners’ benefits and undertaking a rail project, could become a white elephant, is a matter of prioritization by the state government.
Political office-holders should live up to their moral teachings and also implement the constitutional provision which places pension benefits on the same footing with remuneration of top-ranking public officers like the President and the Chief Justice of the Federation. Mere subscription to moral precepts or leap service to constitutional provisions are inadequate and public officers are required to “walk the talk,” such that their actions reflect, to the letter, the spirit of their faiths and give due regard to our collective aspirations as provided in the constitution.
On the whole, there is no use bringing the glitter of Dubai or the glamour of superior Chinese rail-engineering to Kano when its senior citizens are made paupers by the non-prioritization of their welfare. Responses to inquiries indicate that the Kano state government has not been remitting the monthly grant with which pensioners’ gratuities are paid for more than twenty months now. This has made most pensioners and their families unhappy with the government. To regain the confidence of these people and many of their dependents, the government should appreciate the need to address their general problems. In particular, the government should resume the remittance of monthly grants to enable the regular settlement of accumulated gratuities. To allow pensioners to live in abject poverty in the name of making Kano a great city is to aid and abet the scourge of corruption in public service. The fear of insecurity after retirement will continue to haunt employees in active service and prompt them to corrupt tendencies.
Ibrahim Nuruddeen Muhammad,Yola Quarters, Kano City, Kano State