Pensioners in the South-West region of Nigeria, on Friday, protested the non-payment of their gratuity shortage by the Federal Government.

The pensioners, under the aegis of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Contributory Pension Scheme Sector (NUPCPS), Southwest zone, declared that top officials of the National Pension Commission were holding on to their allowances.

The pensioners consist employees from the University College Hospital Ibadan; University Teaching medical facility, Ife; Ilorin Teaching healthcare facility; Federal Medical Centres, Ogun and Lagos; NIPOST among others.

With placards in their hands, the seniors required that their entitlements be paid without additional hold-up.

They regreted that the cash they were contributing at the time of their retirement was not paid to them, stating members of the association remain in dire requirement of the cash.

Speaking throughout the protest, the Chairman of NUPCPS in Oyo State, Joseph Olugbemiga, cried out that their “members have actually not been fairly treated, having added to nationwide advancement while in service.”

Olugbemiga mentioned that the union had composed to the Federal Government through the Ministry of Finance, including that the matter had been taken to court.

He even more declared that a person Ibrahim Bakare connived with others to siphon the contributing money of the pensioners after the cash had actually been deposited in the designated account.

Olugbemiga stated, “What we are contesting for is, we are looking for our brief payment of shortage. They used grade level when they were computing our money. When we were retiring and they were computing our money by Pencom, they utilized the salary grade level of every parastatals.

“Then, we applied and they computed it. Then, they applied from the federal government and it was paid.

“Then, Alhaji Ibrahim Bakare and his mate took the cash from the treasury and put it in a private account, generating interest of almost N200 million every year.

“Then we required for our money, before they were telling us the matter remained in court. The matter is not in court.

“Thereafter, Damisah is the key officer that is holding the money in his account. They have actually been keeping the cash all along and taking interest.

“This is our argument: IPPIS is owing us money. When our individuals are retiring, the money that remained in the IPPIS was not determined with their pension money; and we have been parading the office of the Accountant General for the past 2 years, the cash is still there. They have actually created the cash out of all our members. What is postponing it?

“We have some local concerns like that of Damisah, the chairman for Ife. We asked him to give up all the documents of the association, but he failed to do that. He was required to the police station however the police were unable to jail him. We have actually taken him to the Ooni of Ife palace.

“If we detain Damisah today, they know that the secret of this money, he and Alhaji Bakare, they colluded. Do we have a federal government who can not manage those individuals that are serving?

“All letters we have actually been composing to the minister of financing, there was no reply.

“We have suffered for this federal government and those individuals that are clamouring to leave Pencom, why are they clamouring? Why did they get rid of the police and Army? Is it since the condition of service there is not palatable?

“Instead of providing us 80 percent of our last pay, they are providing us 20 percent. For what? Is it in the constitution?

“We inquired to make a provision for our checkup bills, however they declined. And Pencom is taking one percent of our money as administrative charges.

“These people had served for 35 years and you are stating they are not entitled to gratuity. We have actually not been paid our gratuity. The condition by which we were used is still there,” Olugbemiga stated.

In his response, Ibrahim Bakare of Salary and Wages Commission, Abuja, faulted the pensioners’ claims.

Bakare denied fixing the pensioners’ funds in an account.

He said “It is not possible for the Federal Government to pay money into someone’s account without due procedure. If you go through what they are stating effectively, we are all pensioners; and as a pensioner, they will pay you your money. If they have any other money to pay you, they will.

“They (the pensioners) are not entitled to it. They have complained to Pencom, stating they are not entitled to a shortfall.”