An Abuja renown anti-corruption NGO; Almushahid Initiative for Transparency and Accountability (AITA) during a public hearing at the National Assembly today presented a memorandum in support for exemption of the Nigerian Police Force from the Contributory Pension Scheme.
Presented by Juliet Dr. Okibayi Hassana Muoneme, a consultant with NGO, AITA pointed out that “a major aspect of the drawback in the administration of the contributory pension scheme is the inherent structural and management weakness of the National Pension Commission as the regulating authority.
According to the Memorandum, the abdication of its statutory functions on some critical issues undermines its role in the effective implementation of the pension scheme.
“There is the urgent and compelling need to address the highlighted areas of conflict and contradictions in the Act with the view to injecting the necessary impetus of due diligence, transparency and professionalism into the pension industry.
“Until and unless these paradigm shifts are put in place, the Nigerian Pension establishment would continue to be plagued by incessant challenges. It is based on these submission that the AITA fervently feel that the bill to except the Nigeria Police Force from the contributory pension scheme is headed in the right direction and will go a long way in easing the sufferings of the retired officers and men of the force who have been for so long plagued by the suffering caused by the maladministration in the Pension sector.” It added.
On his part, the National President AITA, Ambassador Aminu Abubakar Majidadi while addressing newsmen after the Public Hearing in his office said that AITA will do everything within its power to ensure that this mission is accomplished and Police are free from the scheme that has nothing to offer in the effort to motivate and encourage the Force as the number one internal security apparatus of the government.
Until police are removed from the Contributory Pension Scheme, AITA will relent to fight for this course with all within it powers. Majidadi concluded.
