Make Prompt Remittances; Pension Board Boss Enjoins Employers/PFAs

By: Victoria Agorom & Sunday Shekwonya

The Director, FCT Area Councils Pension Board (ACSPB), Suleiman Abdulrahman, has called on stakeholders to end delay in remittances of Pension contributions.

The Director said the call has become necessary because some Employers and Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs), are found of delaying remittances so this will ensure prompt remittances of Pension contributions to the Area Councils Employees.

Abdulrahman, who made this call shortly after a Third Quarter Consultative Forum Meeting in his office, Thursday, at Area 3, Garki, Abuja, said the forum was established to ensure proper reconciliation of remittances and unpaid liabilities, as well as to address all other pension matters in accordance with the guidelines of the National Pension Commission.

He revealed that, the Forum, which is established in line with the National Pension Commission is also settled to bring unprecedented progress in the Pension industry by ensuring all deductions from staff salary are remitted promptly and in line with the National Pension Commission.

The Director said, the Forum since its establishment has made a lot of progress due to its work synergy between the FCT Area Councils, Pension Desk Officers (PDOs) and the Pension Administrators PFAs)

The Director revealed that the unremitted deductions are the outstanding remittances which are not paid to the employees either at the right time or due to some delay in the process and they are described in the system as ‘Pension Liabilities’.

Abdulraman charged the PFAs to always ensure prompt remittances of all deductions made from the staff salary, because they stand to benefit hugely from these deductions as soon as they retire from their respective services; stating that prompt remittances are more valuable to the employees than when they are delayed.

During the interactive session of the meeting, reports on Reconciliation of Remittances, Compliance of the PDOs were received by the Board for further processes to be taken for the betterment of the FCT Area Council staff.

The Director enjoined the PDOs to discharge their duties in Compliance with the National Pension Commission to avoid unnecessary errors that will in return complicate the process of Pension benefits of the retirees after their retirement.

Also speaking during the interactive session of the meeting, the Assistant Director FCT Pension Board, Mr. Vincent Okparaji, said the PDOs should put more effort to ensure Compliance on the demands of the Board, such as report on remittances, updates on Unremitted Pension Liabilities.

Speaking on behalf of the PDOs, Isah Bala, said the Forum has been a helpful channel where all complaints are presented for further actions and in Compliance with the National Pension Commission.