ALARMING revelations of massive fraud running into billions of naira stolen by some operators of the pension scheme have confirmed notions of underhand, illicit dealings in the scheme, and that the unit is a haven for fraudsters and rogues. How to redeem the scheme to achieve its primary objective remains a daunting challenge that government nevertheless must square up to.From the exposures, it is hardly surprising that thousands of suffering retirees were not receiving their pension payments because some dubious clique operating in the system have been siphoning funds meant for pension payments into private pockets.According to the Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), Abdulrasheed Maina who made the disclosures, the team uncovered a whopping N151 billion fraud and also traced the six million pounds sterling to a bank in the United Kingdom. Another N18 billion was recovered from some people who were serving until recently.Testifying at a public hearing organised by the Senate Joint Committee on Establishment and States and Local Governments, Maina disclosed that his team, in an investigation started since June 2010, discovered that people who did not qualify for pension had their names on the list while genuine pensioners were left out.He said that from a bloated list containing 258,000 pensioners, his team screened it down to 141,765 after verification. That means as many as 116,235 persons were receiving pension illegally. At the same time, some 44,320 genuine pensioners were omitted from the official list, Maina said.He revealed that many primary school teachers were used as conduit pipes to siphon funds. A primary school teacher in Kebbi was paid N3 million each month, out of which he pocketed 10 per cent, leaving the rest to the crooks behind the deal! In addition, money was being diverted through various means as some retirees received pension from three different points at the same time including the office of the Head of Service of the Federation (HOSF). Besides, some retirees who were entitled to N300 were collecting as much as N300,000 instead. Pensioners used fake documents to make claims.The depraved activities of rogues in the pension office has clearly endangered the scheme and the genuine pensioners, many of who have become sick and frail-looking, having been subjected to unending verifications and yet end up without being paid. Many others have died in poverty. The revelations have raised questions concerning the propriety of pension administration.The problem is not that funds have not been released on regular basis for payment of pension benefits, but the existence of a wily ring of crooks and their collaborators within and outside government who feast on the funds - an unforgivable betrayal. Maina's revelation may be just a tip of the iceberg, begging for government's urgent intervention to safeguard the future of a segment of the population that has spent all their life working in the public or private sector.Failure to remedy the situation is to hang the future of Nigerian workers in jeopardy which would be lamentable for a country that has no social security safety nets for the citizenry. Besides the pathetic state in which many pensioners have found themselves due to non-payment of their paltry entitlements, many of the retirees have no other source of support at old age.It is noted that the Economic And Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) has kicked off investigation and arrested some people over the illegality. The investigation should be thorough to unearth other collaborators and suspects. A new pension scheme was established a few years ago to solve old problems but it appears the scheme has opened up the vista for greater fraud. It is a crime against humanity for unscrupulous persons to be feasting on workers' hard earned sweat.We also note that 32 persons including various companies have been charged to court for illegally siphoning N32.8 billion. The public demand a thorough and diligent prosecution to ensure that the culprits do not go scot free. All the illegal funds held in the banks and properties acquired with the stolen money should be confiscated. It is scandalous also that some banks connive with the pension thieves to hide the loot, in contravention of the law. Appropriate sanctions should be applied to such banks to serve as deterrent to others.The reported move by the Senate to suspend the task team is in bad faith and should be discontinued. Meanwhile, government should do everything possible to have the genuine pensioners paid their entitlements while the investigation goes on.
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