NSITF pensioners ask court to restore unpaid arrears

Members of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners have asked the National Industrial Court in Abuja to compel the Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) to pay them arrears of pension increments owed them. The pensioners are seeking an order of the court directing NSITF, Trust Fund Managment and National Pension Commission to review the pension […]

Members of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners have asked the National Industrial Court in Abuja to compel the Nigerian Social Insurance Trust Fund (NSITF) to pay them arrears of pension increments owed them.

The pensioners are seeking an order of the court directing NSITF, Trust Fund Managment and National Pension Commission to review the pension due and payable to each of them in compliance with Section 173(3) of the Constitution as it applies to Federal Government increase in salaries in July 2010 and 2013 respectively.

In a suit filed by their counsel, Sylvester Imhanobe Esq, the pensioners alleged that the NSITF, Trust Fund Managment and National Pension Commission were in breach of  the provisions of Section 173(3) of the Constitution severally refusing or failing to pay the arrears of their pensions.

The lawyer also argued that the fund did not comply with the provision that “pension shall be reviewed every five years or together with any Federal Civil Service Salary reviews, whichever is earlier.”

“Specifically, in July 2010 when the Federal Government increased salaries by 53.37 percent, the management of NSITF implemented the increase for staffers but increased pension for pensioners by only 33 percent – this is short of 20.37 percent,” the lawyer said.

The pensioners also stated that in August 2013 it increased salaries ranging from 20 percent to 40 percent for various categories of staffers and management, but failed and/or refuses to investigate pension for pensioners.

No date has been fixed for hearing.