By Dada Ahmed, Lokoja.
Members of the National Union of Pensioners Contributory Pension Scheme (NUPCPS) in Lokoja, Kogi State, have expressed deep frustration over delays in the payment of their Retirement Savings Accounts (RSA), despite the recent release of funds by the National Pension Commission (PENCOM).
Some pensioners who spoke with The Reporters on Tuesday said they had completed the mandatory recapturing and were expecting bank alerts more than ten days ago, but none of the anticipated payments had reflected.
They alleged that some Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) may be employing what they described as “delay tactics,” causing anxiety and hardship among elderly retirees who rely on the funds for immediate needs.
Many of the pensioners said the prolonged wait is affecting their health and welfare, noting that several members require the money to offset medical bills and attend to urgent family responsibilities.
They appealed to the NUPCPS Chairman, Comrade Sylva Nwaiwu, his executive council, and PENCOM to intervene and compel the PFAs to fast-track the process.
The pensioners expressed concern that unnecessary delays could worsen the suffering of their vulnerable members who have already waited years for their entitlements.
They pointed out that although RSA alerts were issued for some categories,such as payments for the 2007, 2010, 2019, and 2024 pension increments,actual bank credits have not followed.
The pensioners added that they were also expecting the payment of the ₦32,000 sixteen-month arrears, gratuities, and the ₦25,000 six-month palliative promised by the federal government, lamenting that these benefits remain inaccessible despite the prevailing harsh economic conditions in the country.
“Justice delayed is justice denied,” one of the pensioners, Mallam Isah Mohammed, said, urging PENCOM and the PFAs to honour their commitments and ensure that pensioners receive the fruits of their labour without added distress.
The pensioners told The Reporters that their demand is simple: to access their rightful benefits in dignity and peace and use them responsibly for their well-being and their dependants.
