Some pensioners have introduced a new way of exploiting their fellow pensioners under the guise of working to facilitate payment of their pensions; EDET UDOH writes.
Findings have shown that pensioners of some companies have constituted themselves into middle men claiming to represent the interest of pensioners.They often levy their colleagues, telling them that the proceeds will be used to travel to Abuja to lobby on behalf of others for timely payment of their pensions.
While trying to render the services of mediating between the members and Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), these so called interest groups continued to collect all manners of levies which they allegedly claim are used as appreciation for PTAD staff in order to fast-track payments of their pensions and pension arrears.
The most recent of this is some pensioners of the Delta Steel Company demanding some amount of money from all the pensioners which they claimed will be used in appreciating PTAD staff.
However, our findings has proved that these so called middle men are only using the issue of appreciating PTAD staff to exploit their fellow pensioners.
The so called representative of ex-Delta Steel Company workers pensioners in a letter dated December 15, 2020, titled “Reminder on Payment of Levy” and jointly signed by the Chairman and the Secretary, Dr. R. Ebluwevbe and Mr. K.O Emunotor respectively, and addressed to all ex-Delta Steel Company workers (Pensfromioners), called for the payment of levy ranging N2,000, for members on Grade Level 1-4 to N28,000, for those on Grade Level 15-17.
“We once again wish to remind you of our unanimous resolution reached and adopted at the general meeting of all ex-DSC workers held at the DSC Model Primary School II on the 25th February, 2017 that we will pay levy to appreciate those who have helped us thus far and accumulated debts.
“The status now is that we have not been able to meet our commitment/indebtedness to those concerned. This is largely due to the fact that only a few paid the levy. Another bulk payment has now been made by PTAD from our pension arrears. We hereby appeal to those who have not paid the levy as agreed to do so in accordance with the table below at the banks or Redino Clinic, along Ibadan Road (opposite Kaduna Street Junction) Steel Town I.
“Our levy collection team will be on ground at Redino Clinic from 17th December to 31st December 2020 within the hours of 9.00am to 2.00pm, Monday to Friday. You can pay into the bank with Union bank OVWIAN and Polaris Bank, DSC Steel Town III. You can tender your bank pay slip at the above address to be converted to receipt(s).
“Pensioners should note that the epileptic and the incomplete payment of the pension arrears is mainly due to our inability to fulfill our obligations. If we do the needful our situation will change. Thank you for your cooperation and God Bless,” the letter stated.
When contacted the owners of the two GSM numbers (08052053309 and 08033009870) on the above stated letter, the person who responded to the first number (08052053309), told our correspondent that he was on a family meeting that he will call back but did not as at the time of filling this report.
When our Correspondent eventually succeeded in getting through to the second number (08033009870), the man who responded refused to give his name and the following discussions ensued:
Our Correspondent: “I am Insurance and Pension Journalist, from Abuja, I call to clarify issues in respect of a letter from Ex-Delta Steel workers reminding members for payment of levy to be used in appreciating PTAD staff. Does it mean that PTAD staff usually demand gratification from pensioners before their pension arrears can be paid?
The man responded: “What do you want? You say you are in Abuja. I am not in Abuja right now, I am in Warri and how can I tell you what you want?
Our Correspondent: “You can tell me whatever you have here on phone, I have enough airtime. Speak on.
The man responded: “Speak to you as how and on what?
Our Correspondent: “I have told you that I am a journalist. You recently sent a letter to all pensioners of Delta Steel Company demanding that a certain levy be paid by them to use in appreciating PTAD staff or are you not aware of the letter?
The man responded: “I am not aware. I am not party to the letter. I don’t know anything about it.
Our Correspondent asked: “How come you are not aware but your phone number is on the letter?
The man responded: “Well, I have told you that I don’t know anything about the letter. Anybody can write a letter, but I don’t know the letter you are talking about.
Our Correspondent: “Are you a retired Delta Steel Company worker?
He refused to say anything.
A staff of PTAD who spoke to our correspondent on condition of anonymity expressed displeasure on the attitude of some pensioners and condemned the situation where some pensioners use the name of PTAD to exploit their colleagues.
“The problem is that some pensioners are the cause of why this is happening. Some of them are not patient to wait and follow due process and the bad egg in their midst capitalizes on this to defraud them.
“No PTAD staff can demand any form of gratification from pensioners because it’s a serious offence that earns the culprit a sack. In the recent past some staff of the Directorate got in the web of this misdemeanor were investigated and they were sanctioned accordingly,” our sources said.
Meanwhile, PTAD Executive Secretary, Chioma Ejikeme, has warned pensioners in the country not to contribute money to anybody or group of people who claim they are representing the interest of pensioners.
She gave the warning on her verified tweeter handle @chiomanejikeme recently.
In the tweet directed to pensioners, PTAD Executive Secretary pleaded with them not to fall for the scam of some people who claimed to be representing pensioners’ interest.
“…. Please do not fall for the scam of some people who are representing you and claim you have to contribute money to thank PTAD staff for your arrears paid or yet to be paid.
“This is a scam. PTAD will never collect gratification for arrears paid nor demand gratification for arrears to be paid. Delta Steel, Aladja pensioners beware of pension fraudsters, New Nigerian Newspaper (NNN), Nigeria Reinsurance Corporation, NICON Insurance, take note,” PTAD boss warned.
Ejikeme’s warning to pensioners came as reaction to a letter purportedly written ex-Delta Steel Company workers dated December 15, 2020, titled “Reminder on Payment of Levy” and jointly signed by the Chairman and the Secretary, Dr. R. Ebluwevbe and Mr. K.O Emunotor respectively, and addressed to all ex-Delta Steel Company workers (Pensioners), calling for the payment of levy ranging from N2,000, for Grade Level 1-4 to N28,000, for Grade Level 15-17.
Some pensioners who called on the PTAD boss to speak on when the minimum wage increase due to them since April 2019 will be paid, noted that “scammers thrive when rumours fly around. You should make a specific clarification on when the minimum wage increase due since April 2019 will be paid to our elderly pensioners. For example there are people telling us we need to bribe some of your PTAD officials.”
Responding, she said, “We are yet to get instruction from the government on the percentage implementation for the new pension increment. It is going through the normal bureaucratic process. As soon as we do, we will inform you. Do not fall for pension fraudsters.”
