SOME retirees in Taraba have decried the poor handling of their retirement benefits by Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs).
The retirees, who spoke with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), in Jalingo, said it was disheartening to see people, who had put in their best in service to their nation, being left to suffer such humiliation.
They noted that getting their gratuity after retirement had become a nightmare for them as many were often disappointed with what they were paid at the end of the rigorous process.
Alhaji Mohammed Dahaya, a retired staff of the Federal Ministry of Works, told NAN that the PFAs had not been fair to him.
Dahaya said, apart from delaying his payment unnecessarily, the pay he got as gratuity was not what he was expecting. “I think I deserve better than what I am getting from the Pension Fund Administrators as a pension. “How can you explain when one puts in their youthful age in service to the nation and cannot be well taken care of at old age.
“I suggest PenCom (Pension Commission) should be made to give people their money, at least 80 per cent, towards their retirement date, to avoid the disappointments and frustrations that come with the process,” he said.
Mrs Mary Ayuba, another retiree, told NAN that her life had been full of regrets since she left service eight years ago.
Ayuba said that after trading with people’s money over the years, PFAs would subject retirees to untold hardships by coming up with cumbersome processes that would make the whole process frustrating.
She also suggested that civil servants be given their money as they approached their retirement date so that they could plan their lives.
Malam Aminu Usman, the Programmes Manager, Maigodiya Center for Youth Development, an NGO, called for a reform of the PFAs and the law establishing PenCom.
Usman noted that it was not encouraging to subject senior citizens to such rigours that most times shortened their live span. (NAN)
