NASU laments non-remittance of workers’ pensions

Decries non-payment of salaries by states

The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) has lamented the non-remittance of the contributory pension deductions into the retirement savings accounts of the Federal Government workers.

In a communiqué issued at the end of its National Executive Council (NEC) meeting held in Abuja, the union said Federal Government has not remitted pension contributions deducted from staff salaries and its own contributions into the Retirement Savings Accounts (RSA) of her employees since October, 2015 to date.

The communiqué signed by the President, Chris Ani and General Secretary, Peters Adeyemi, read in part: “NEC was very surprised that the Federal Government is not complying with the provisions of the Pension Reform Act 2014, which makes it mandatory for employers to remit such deductions and contributions within seven days after the payment of the monthly salaries including delay in payment of pension.”

The NEC-In-Session noted that by that singular act, the Federal Government was short-changing her staff and putting their pension benefits in future crisis. NEC therefore called on the Federal Government to immediately remit into the RSA of all federal employees all outstanding pension deductions, the contributions of the government and accrued interest without further delays.

The NEC-In-Session also frowned at the irregular payment of workers salaries by 27 out of the 36 state governments.“NEC-in-Session lamented the inability of about 27 State Governments to pay workers’ salaries as and when due running into several months. NEC insists that payment of salaries is a statutory obligation, which must be fulfilled,” it said.

The NEC expressed shock that some governors diverted the bailout funds into frivolous purposes rather than what it meant for. It therefore urged President Muhammadu Buhari to investigate all those involved in the heinous crime and bring them to book.

The meeting also noted that economic recession is biting harder on workers, which necessitates prompt payment of salaries as at when due.NASU berated the Federal Government for developing a penchant for not releasing personnel emolument to universities, polytechnics, Colleges of Education and other tertiary institutions since November 2015 in full.

It added: “NEC-in-Session worried by this ugly development, therefore called on the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Muhammadu Buhari to ensure the release of funds to clear the arrears of the shortfall and also ensure that full allocations for Personnel Emolument are released to the Institutions in order to guarantee continuing full payment of salaries.”The meeting also decried non-release of earned allowances of universities workers except for the initial release of N30billion in 2014.

NASU expressed regrets that subsequent demands for the release of funds to pay the allowances have not yielded any positive result.It therefore appealed to the Federal Government to act fast by releasing the needed funds for the payment of the outstanding arrears to sustain the present industrial peace in the universities.