Former Niger state assembly member asked Gov. Bago to ensure due diligence in payment of pension and gratuities
Former Niger state House of Assembly Member, representing Bosso Constituency in the 9th assembly, Hon. Malik Madaki Bosso, has called on the Governor of the state, Farmer Mohammed Umar Bago to ensure due diligence is followed on the payment of pension and gratuities.
Hon. Malik Madaki Bosso, made the call in an open letter to the governor, commending him for approving N25 billion for the payment of pensions and gratuities of retirees in the state.
He said while the approval of N25 billion must be applauded and appreciated as it will ease the sufferings of the aged retirees who labored for the state, if due diligence is not done in the disbursement, the earmarked amount might not be utilised for the purpose it was meant for.
Hon. Malik Madaki Bosso explained that pensioners in the state were of two categories, stating that the first category were those who retired from the state civil service commission and whose entitlements are to be paid through the Niger State Pension Board.
He added that the second category were those who retired under the Local Government Service Commission and whose entitlements are to be paid through the Niger State Local Government Pension Board.
He explained that before 2020, there was difficulty in the administration of pensions in the state because both state and local government retirees could only process their entitlements in the Niger State Pension Board as obtainable now and were both governed by the same law.
He disclosed that he sponsored a bill in 2020 which was passed into law as the Niger State Pension Reform (Amendment) Law, No.2, 2020 that came into force on September 17, 2020.
He said the law created the Niger State Local Government Pension Board and thereby separated the administration of pension of the state retirees and the local government retirees.
He said sections 11 and 12 of the law says there is thereby established body to be known as Niger State Local Government Pension Board, the board shall be a body corporate with perpetual succession and with a common seal.
“The board may sue and be sued in its corporate name, the board may acquire, hold or dispose of any movable property for the purpose of its function.
“The principal objective of the board shall be to regulate, supervise and ensure effective administration of pension matters under the principal law and all other relevant laws including this law,”.
Hon. Malik Madaki Bosso said sections 13 and 14 of the law stated the membership of the board, tenure of office and functions.
He said it was egrettable that no such board was put in place to give effect to the provisions of the said law, adding that it was the responsibility of the governor to appoint DG, Chairman and members of the board as provided under section 14 of the law.
He said what was only obtainable in the pension Board was a division of state and local government as it was being called.
He advised that for the fund earmarked by the governor to reach pensioners, the Local Government Pension Board must be put in place, appoint its DG, chairman and members and allocate part of the earmarked funds to it for proper administration and disbursement to the deserved pensioners under local government.
He said without following the procedure strictly as provided by the law, the efforts of the governor will be futile and fruitless as most of the deserved pensioners will not see anything which will of course defeat the aim for which the earmarked fund.
He expressed hope that the governor, who is a former legislator and respecter of rule of law, will take immediate necessary step to remedy the situation and close this huge gap.
