by Azeez Adeniyi

The House of Representatives has summoned the Minister of Finance, Kemi Adeosun; her Labour counterpart, Senator Chris Ngige, and Minister of Budget and National Planning, Udoma Udo Udoma over the non-payment of pensioners in the country.

The lower chamber also summoned the Head of Service of the Federation, Winifred Oyo-Ita.

Speaker of the House, Yakubu Dogara disclosed this on Wednesday when the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, NUP, led by its President, Comrade Abel Afolayan, visited him.

He said, “We will move the motion and pass the resolution tomorrow (today). The ministers and the relevant officers must come to see us at plenary on live television next Thursday.

“We also invited key members of your union to attend the session and hear what the ministers will say. Let them come and take centrestage and tell Nigerians what can be done to get out of this situation. “If it appears they have no solutions, then we will ask them for explanations. There has to be a position before we can all together go and meet with Mr. President over this very serious matter.”

National President of NUP, Dr. Afoloyan said they had exhausted all avenues to get the government to pay pension benefits.

He said, “Regarding Contributory Pension Scheme, CBS, we have gathered the following facts and figures: a total of N91,914, 899,000.00 was requested for in 2016 federal government appropriation bill, but the National Assembly approved N50, 195,808, 918, resulting in a shortfall of N41, 719, 090, 082. 00.

“Out of N50, 195,808, 918 appropriated for 2016, only N18,823,428,342.00 had so far been released into Retirement Benefits Bond Redemption, RBBR. “Pensioners have become endangered species and prone to all kinds of diseases, which were age-related and needed money for treatment.’’

Azeez