By Polycarp Onwubiko
The Chairman of the Anambra State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Comrade Humphrey Nwafor, on behalf of organized labour in the state, has appealed to Governor Prof. Chukwuma Soludo to urgently domesticate the National Pension Commission (NPC) and review the state’s Pension Law to align with NPC regulations.
Speaking at a one-day
sensitization workshop held at the NUT Secretariat, Awka, Anambra State, Nwafor
stated that the primary purpose of the event was to familiarize the state
workforce with the operations of the new Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS),
explaining how it works and what workers should expect upon retirement.
Nwafor said: *"You will
recall that the Anambra State government introduced the Contributory Pension
Scheme (CPS) in 2014 and 2015, enrolling the state workforce into the system.
However, since its inception, the leadership of organized labour has remained
actively engaged due to the government’s non-compliance with the fundamental
provisions of the scheme, particularly in the areas of deductions and
remittances.
"For six years, 5 percent
of workers' salaries were deducted monthly under the CPS, yet these funds were
not remitted to the Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs). Even more concerning
was the government’s failure to pay its statutory 10 percent contribution while
continuing to deduct from workers’ salaries without remitting the funds. Faced
with this anomaly, organized labour had no choice but to demand the immediate
suspension of these deductions until the government addressed the challenges
hindering the proper implementation of the scheme in Anambra State."*
The labour leader, however,
commended Governor Soludo for stopping the 5 percent deductions.
*"Furthermore, the
Governor set up a committee comprising representatives from both the government
and labour to thoroughly investigate and address the concerns raised. The
committee has concluded its work, and its report is currently with the Governor
for necessary action.
"Recognizing the need for
greater awareness and understanding of the CPS, we deemed it essential to
engage the National Pension Commission (NPC) in this workshop. This platform
provides an opportunity for workers to interact directly with experts, gain insight
into the benefits, challenges, and operational framework of the scheme.
"It is crucial for every
worker to be well informed about their entitlements, the responsibilities of
the government, and the roles workers must play to ensure that their years of
service culminate in a secure retirement. We extend our sincere appreciation to
the Director General of NPC for approving and supporting this workshop, making
it possible for us to gather here today. We also acknowledge the unwavering
commitment of the State Head of Service, Lady Theodora Igwegbe, mni, for
prioritizing workers' welfare."*
Nwafor also called on the state
government to consider organizing similar sensitization workshops for all
workers before reintroducing the CPS, emphasizing that such efforts would help
the workforce fully understand the pension scheme, foster trust, and facilitate
smooth implementation.
Also speaking at the workshop,
the Head of NPC in the state, Mrs. Chiadika, provided in-depth explanations of
the operational modalities of the Contributory Pension Scheme. Along with her
team, she responded to various questions from the audience.
Present at the workshop were
the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Finance, Mr. J.C. Achor, who
represented the Head of Service and declared the workshop open, as well as
labour unit leaders from the organized private sector and university, the
Chairman of the NUJ, Dr. Odogwu Emeka Odogwu, the Chairman of NUP, Comrade
Ugozor, and representatives from NULGE, NUT, and other labour organizations.
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