The Correctional Officers Pencom Retirees Association of Nigeria (COPRAN) says the contributory Pension Commission (PenCom) scheme is worsening retirees’ challenges.

COPRAN, in a petition to President Bola Tinubu, Senate president, speaker of the House of Representatives, labour minister, and the National Human Rights Commission, among others, said PenCom starved pensioners of their funds after retirement.

COPRAN president in Plateau Anthony Ayiwulu said the PENCOM policy, although made in good faith, had caused more harm than good to public servant retirees, who are called senior citizens.

Mr Ayiwulu said the policy needed to be changed or reviewed urgently for the common good, the betterment of those concerned, and an effective result.

The association’s president stated that after 35 years of diligent, selfless service to one’s nation, all one has to show for it is owed gratuities and the inability to provide one’s basic needs and even the needs of one’s family.

“The Nigerian Army sought out of the PenCom scheme and their request was granted because the scheme only created untold hardship in the lives of retired servicemen. 

“In the current situation of the country with rate of inflation, retirees have a lot of bills to pick including taking care of their health. There should exist a spirit of fairness in the nation’s dealings with its citizens and in the payment of civil, public servants and retirees promptly, would help them cope with retirement,” he said.

He said senior citizens had yet to receive any palliative to mitigate the country’s difficult economic situation.

According to him, senior citizens under PenCom were asked to submit their information through their various pension fund administrators (PFAs), but there have been no positive responses to date. 

(NAN)