NSITF sets up panel on payment of arrears

The Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund has set up a committee to look into the payment of 33 percent increment to retired workers of the organisation.The NSTIF’s Managing Director, Mr. Munir Abubakar, said this at the end of a two-hour meeting with protesting ex-workers of the organisation in Abuja on Monday.The ex-workers had embarked on a protest march to the NSITF office as a fallout of the misunderstanding over the payment of 33 per cent pension to them.Abubakar attributed the ex-workers’ protest to a lack of understanding of the workings of pension administration in the country.The committee members include the NSITF General Manager, Administration and Human Resources, Olusegun Basorun (chairman); Deputy General Manager, Henry Ehhasomi; Assistant General Manager, Legal, Mrs. Toyin Arokoyo; and Mrs. Grace Benson (secretary)The ex-workers are represented in the committee by Mbazigwe Akonye, Rukkayyat Alkali, Ayo Olutekumbiand Joseph Okunade.Abubakar said that the meeting with the ex-workers ended with an amicable resolution of the lingering conflict.He said, “The meeting has disabused the distrust that our retirees have against the management. Ever since this issue started over two years ago, we have been doing our best to ensure we find amicable middle ground that will be acceptable to the retirees.“I am extremely pleased that we have finally found amicable solution to the matter. The picketing of our office by the pensioners’ union has also afforded them the opportunity to see what the management has been doing and the efforts that have gone into resolving the matter.“Like I always say to all the stakeholders, that the NSITF is a big organisation and it is in the best interest of the Nigerian workers to create enabling environment that will allow for smooth implementation of the Employees Compensation Scheme.“I assure the retirees that management is always seeking for ways to improve on their collective interest. The management sees the retirees as our ambassadors and therefore we cannot do anything that will harm their wellbeing.”According to him, the committee, which is expected to look into the implementation of the 33 percent increment, will visit PENCOM with a view to settling existing differences between the ex-workers and the NSITF management.