By: Vitalis Ugoh, Calabar
The Cross River state governor, Sen. Bassey Edet Otu has reiterated government’s commitment to effectively key into the new age of Digitalization for optimal service delivery.
Otu reaffirmed the stance of government while declaring open a one day Sensitization Program on the Benefits of Implementating the Contributory Pension Scheme, Organized by the Ministry of Establishments, Training and Pension in Calabar.
The governor who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Prof. John Owan Enoh emphasized that the state would not be left behind in the digitalization wind blowing across the world hence the need to seriously consider Contributory Pension Scheme as a factor in the welfare of civil servants in the state.
He said that the aptness of the event is anchored on the desire of his administration to identify and domesticate any iota of programs that would create an atmosphere of succour to his people as against the hitherto laborious and cumbersome manner of the management of pensions in the state which subjects implementation to shrouded secrecy leading to suspicion and uncertainties.
He said that “on account of the analog system with its attendant delays, inordinate coordination and other unfortunate factors many beneficiaries died untimely without accomplishing their dreams of enjoying their entitlements on retirement”.
The governor pointed out that the program was therefore packaged to sensitize the workforce as one of the processes of considering the implementation of the scheme in the state.
Earlier in her remarks, the Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions, Hon.Mrs. Lawrencia Ita, urged the state workers and other stakeholders to actively participate in the program which has the potentials of ushering in freshness in pension administration in the state.
She recalled the proactive nature of state administrators in the past especially that which introduced the smart card system which was vehemently opposed but later became a frame of reference for the country at large.
Ita advised those viewing the proposal from the negative point of view to reassess their stance and be disposed to modernity and the technological drive of Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu’s administration.
Speaking, the chairman of the occasion and president of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Comrade Joe Ajaero commended the state government for beginning a process loaded with potentials of huge benefits to workers of the state.
He advised that stakeholders should without bias digest the proposed policy already captured by the Federal government and domesticated in several states of the Federation with hug multi faceted benefits accruing to the employers and the employees.
The NLC National President, condemned the idea of peripherally viewing a policy and on that premise draw conclusions without painstaking studying the program.
According to him, the NLC at the national level has embraced the program based on the convincing evidence of effectiveness, efficiency and sustainability.
Comrade Ajaero opined that though the policy is appreciated across the world, the stakeholders in the state, rather than condemn outrightly, should consider the perculiarities of the state and inject ideas that would culminate in improvement and better service delivery.
He affirmed that by his assessment of the policy, it is reliable, transparent and eliminates ghost workers and give retirees the confidence and assurances for prompt payment of pensions.
The NLC National President pointed out that the scheme which is taking sustainable roots in the country was introduced because of the failure of the past pension management approach and called for collaboration and support by workers.
Speaking on the topic,” Overview of the Contributory Pension Scheme, Challenges and Milestone Achieved” the Director General, National Pension Commission,who was represented by Mr Clement Oyetola Akintola revealed that the scheme came into fruition due to the collosal failure of the past approaches which became a liability to both government at all levels and the beneficiaries.
This he maintained was principally occasioned by uncertainties, insensitivities, inconsistencies and cumbersomeness which led to the death of many retirees
. He said that the ugly past in pension management did not have the credibility expected and therefore was trailed by tales of woes and ambiguity.
The old system according to him was tied to the annual budgets which in most cases was not realistic leading to deficits affecting regular payment of pensions, whereas the new system is totally devoid of such uncertainties.
The Director General also informed that 35 states and the FCT have enacted laws on the Contributory Pension Scheme and hoped that CRS would soon be part of the program.
The Senior Special Adviser and State Coordinator,AUDA NEPAD and Lead Facilitator for the Implementation of the CPS, Dr Prince, Michael Nku Abuo re emphasized that the state Governor, Senator Prince Bassey Edet Otu was passionate about injecting modernity in the pension management in the state in order to remove all the encumbrances associated with the old scheme.
Other lectures at the event included the Role of PFAS in Ensuring The Smooth implemention of the Contributory Pension Scheme delivered by the Managing Director, Access Pension fund Administrator; and, Actuarial Valuation.
