Former Employees of PHCN, Other Companies Decry Non-Payment of Pensions

Legit.ng reader Katherine O. says non-payment of pensions to former employees of the now-defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria is fast becoming a pressing issue across Nigeria.

When we asked our readers on Facebook if they or anyone they know are facing similar problems, we have received a lot of responses, their tone and subject matter ranging significantly. A lot of aggrieved pensioners from other companies have also sent their complaints.

"PHCN pensioners have not been paid for four months now, and the government is doing nothing about it," Katherine wrote. "How can people who served the nation for 35 years not receive their reward? How are they supposed to survive?

"The problem affects many PHCN pensioners in whole Nigeria. Many of them are on the hospital beds now because of this situation.

"I have a relative who is a pensioner. The last time they were paid was in February 2014. First, the government said the budget has not been signed by the President [Goodluck Jonathan]. Later, they said they are yet to issue out the money allocated to them. Today, we're still waiting," the woman says, adding that peaceful protests held by pensioners in Abuja in May were fruitless.

"It appears that the government is not even aware of the non-payment, as the money might have been embezzled."

The respondents have expressed their general disappointment of and disdain for the PHCN organisation for poor services. While Legit.ng does not encourage personal insults, we felt it was appropriate to post some comments to emphasize the level of frustration:

Michael Oghenero Idama: What were the services they rendered? For us to live without light in their time? Fools, let them roast hell fire, no more pay for them. They hate light and love darkness, so let them remain in darkness.

Uche Jaqhswill: Has there ever been a time when there was 24 hours of light in this our country? No? So where did the man serve well? Currently, there's no light as I am typing.

Anene Aloy: Only three months pension delay, and they are complaining. For what? They are the most corrupt government agency in Nigeria. What do they do with monies stolen from the Nigerian public over the years? They are bunch of criminals. From stealing armoured cable to transmission oil and overpricing of tariff without reading the meter. They are killing people in the village with their bills. That is why they don't install the prepaid meters, so that they will continue with their devilsh act.

However, it seems that quite a number of commentators could relate to the story submitted by our reader, as either themselves or their relatives have been affected by the consequences of non-payment:

Augustine Imeoria: I am involved. Not only at the federal level. Even states like Abia have a similar case. I was paid only in January and March. They owe us starting from February until July 2014. God save the pensioners and touch the hearts of those withholding the merited monies to be released to us.

Joyce Etus: My dad passed away over eight years ago, but we are yet to receive his pension money.

Many urged other Nigerians to set their grievances aside and pay respect to the senior pensioners who, after having served their country for decades, are not receiving their money:

Eze Blessing: I think you don't understand what they are talkign about here. They mean those who have saved us diligently in the past, not those that are presently there. Put urself in their shoes - they are suffering.

Shamsuddeen Baba Katagum: These old people they are talking about are those who served when it was called NEPA [National Electric Power Authority]. Is PHCN up to 35 years? And mostly in Nigeria, whoever served 35 years must be at least 60 now. Respect the age.

Cordial Meek: I feel so upset. These pensioners were teachers who must have taught our politicians, some security officers, some doctors who must have treated the leaders in the past. So what is the greedy leaders' excuse for not paying them? The leaders are being paid, and even Boko Haram (because I believe that there are people who are sponsoring them), but why not pay the ones who once served the country?

A lot of Nigerians are blaming the authorities for the unfortunate development:

Cordial Meek: Sometimes, it seems that Nigeria deserves Boko Haram. This pension issue did not start today, and if these pensioners were young people, they would have formed a terrorist group in order to be given amnesty and be payed as no one would hold office position and agree to be a terrorist. The President and governors are always paid, so what is the excuse of not paying those who served?

Ameh Samuel Acholo: There is money for the delegates' jamboree to Brasil, for super-expensive bulletproof cars, for 11 jets in PAF, for looting and flamboyant lifestyles for our politicians. But not for the poor pensioners. Transformation agenda on course!

Mog Olu Please: Nigerian government needs to address this issue and act accodingly. My dad mentioned the same: they have not been paid since February. I wonder why this is happening to someone who had served this country for over 30 years.

We have received multiple complaints from eployees (former and current) of other establishments:

Dafeatere Kelvin Okitikpi Ovuoke: Delta Steel Company pensioners have not been paid for more than two years, and the government is not doing anything about it. It is a general sickness.

Michael Okpara: It is no longer news that Nigerian government has no concern for the patriots who laboured to keep the nation's life. You are talking of PHCN, but what about Delta Steel Company workers?

Oluwaseyi Sodiji: I beg you to please reach out to the Government of President Goodluck Jonathan to pay the pensioners of Nigeria Airways. The airline has been defunct for over 15 years now, and most of their counterparts in other countries had taken their money a long time ago. But in Nigeria, it is a reverse case. Many of these retirees have lost their lives for starvation.

Augustina Ojemeni: You are talking about PHCN pensioners of yesterday. What of Nigeria Airways staff? I have not been paid a dime for over 10 years. This is how our country is taking care of us.

Vivian Enenche: Four months is a short period of time. For Benue State primary teachers it has been over ten months now since the government has last paid them.

Ayodeji: My Dad died on the 8th of January, 2007. Prior to tha,t he was already on his leave-to-go, as he worked for the Nigerian Customs as their librarian for 35 years. He didn't even collect his gratuity, talk less of collecting a day's pension. Since then, we have been at it with the Customs service and PenCom to release his entitlements. We have been at it for 7 years now, still, nothing has been done, not even his contributions with the NHS or Federal Housing scheme which we were told will take just 2 months after we had presented all the necessary papers have been given to us. We have spent countless amount of money and even risked danger of accident and terrorists attacks going back and forth to Abuja. 

Julius A. Adie: I was working with Costain West Africa PLC as electrician in plant section from 2001 to October 2013. IBTC is my pension company. Most of the companies in Nigeria deduct pension money from our salaries but will not remit it to our pension company. Many of my co-workers who retire or were sacked went to the pension manager to confirm their account. On getting there, they were told their accounts have not been credit for some years. Since 2010, they have not dropped anything in my account. I left the company late last year. Until now, both my two months' salaries, my entitlement have not been paid, not to talk of my pension which I don't even have the hop of collecting.

Legit.ng has contacted the aforementioned institutions and is waiting for their response. Have you encountered similar problems? Send your account to info@naij.com and be heard!

Source: Legit.ng