The Association of Former Employees of NICON Insurance (AFENI) have called on the federal government to fast track the process that would enable its members receive the remaining five years arrears.
The federal government has been able to pay two years arrears to former staff of the defunct insurance company.
AFENI took the stance during the general meeting it held on Saturday in Abuja.
The group called on the federal government to look into the issue of the ‘SHORTFALL’ with a view to addressing it. Just as it urged the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) to quickly address the issue of the N2.4billion in-house pension fund that cannot be accounted for.
In his welcome address, Chairman, Executive Committee of APENI, Awa Mmaju, said the past 15 years has been a very difficult period for most former staff of the company.
While thanking President Muhammadu Buhari for graciously approving the payment for the former staff, Mmaju said that “without this little stipend that we collect every month, I don’t know where some of us would have been today.
Even during the pandemic we continued getting alert. In December 2020 when we thought the arrears will not be paid we started getting alert.
Chairperson of the occasion, Ms PMG Soares, noted that a lot of effort and personal sacrifice has been put in to ensure that people get their pension arrears.
She used the occasion to thank the former Executive Secretary of PTAD, Sharon Ikeazor and the incumbent ES, Chioma Ejikeme for their determination to ensure that AFENI members get their monies.
“It was not an easy journey. People get their money in their accounts but they don’t know the effort that has gone behind. However, we realize that sheer determination will not achieve the goal, we were fortunate that Barr. Sharon Ikeazor, a formidable and compassionate lady was at the helm of affairs at PTAD. She fought hard that action was taken to right the wrong,” she added.
The workers agreed to continue to explore all avenues to ensure that their outstanding arrears and all other issues are resolved.
