Re: Ex-Ambassador on N2,400 monthly pension seeks justice

 My attention was drawn to a piece in page 4 of Daily Trust of Tuesday, October 18, 2016 captioned, “Ex-Ambassador on N2,400 monthly pension seeks justice” which indicateds that our pension authorities are no respecter of pensioners of whatever status. The victim is no less a personality than Ambassador Umar Bashir Wali who retired in […]

 My attention was drawn to a piece in page 4 of Daily Trust of Tuesday, October 18, 2016 captioned, “Ex-Ambassador on N2,400 monthly pension seeks justice” which indicateds that our pension authorities are no respecter of pensioners of whatever status.

The victim is no less a personality than Ambassador Umar Bashir Wali who retired in January 1990 after 36 years of service on Grade Level 16. He started on a pension of N50,000, according to the statement.

Since he retired there has been several pension reviews. Letter No. B.63216/SI/X/6/9 of 20/12/91 awarded 20% increase. Another circular Ref. No. B.63216/SI/X/T/8 dated 22/7/92 granted 10% Ref. No. B.63216/S.I/X/710 of 20/12/94 gave another increase. On 30/1/97 there was Harmonization for officers who retired before 1/1/91 Ref. No. SWC.04/VOL.IV/101 of 7/5/99 granted 142% in all existing pensions. As from 1/1/99 an increase of 150% was granted.

It looks like each time pensions were raised by certain percentage instead of increasing his pension, it was reduced by that percent which shrunk to the present N2,400.

This is the lot of thousands of pensioners dying in silence. For instance, I retired from service on 1st January, 1989 and started enjoying pension until 1st January, 2015 my federal share abruptly stopped without any explanation.

To make matters worse, some unscrupulous staffers would call a pensioner and demand some money to be paid into some bank account, so as to facilitate the release of non-existence cheque. To asure you that they were calling from the pension office, they would read to you your full bio-data such as first date of appointment, date of retirement, rank at retirement, last department and bank account correctly.

I used to receive such calls every now and then. By now they have recognized me as a bad guy. In fact one of them called me to say that I have over drawn my pension and overstayed my welcome. My pension will shrink to 8% even if restored.  According to him, pensioners are not expected to enjoy pension for more than five years before death. One should either die or his pension should die. So it is an abomination to draw pension for twenty sis years.

Some of us have put our lives on line for the present officers to be where they are. Zik “no condition is permanent”. One day if they live long they too would retire. I have gone through all the dreaded verification except the last one which was not conducted in the North-East. Maybe they assume we were all killed by the Boko Haram.

Comrade (Dr.) Ali Chiroma, mni, MON