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PenCom launches app to capture retirees for benefits
The National Pension Commission (PenCom) has launched an online application to capture the information of retirees and process the benefits due to them.
In 2020, PenCom had explained that it would introduce an electronic process for easy authentication of retirees due to COVID-19.
The commission said the process would include self-assisted and the pension fund administrator (PFA) assisted options.
With this application, the commission said it aims to capture about 11,000 civil servants who are billed to retire in 2021.
Anyim Nyerere, PenCom commissioner, Technical, told reporters in Abuja on Monday on the sidelines of a training for Pension Desk Officers (PDOs) at the ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs).
Nyerere said the application was developed owing to the fact that physical contact has been limited because of COVID-19, adding that it will help the federal government draw up the budget for retirees.
“In terms of value, we are in a dynamic situation, this exercise was supposed to be physical capturing of the would-be retirees of 2020 and 2021 years,” Nyerere said.
“Now it is not impossible to do it because of COVID-19 pandemic, so that is why the online application was developed. The benefit [of this app] is to enable us to capture the would-be retirees which would enable the budget proposal for the retirees by the federal government.”
The commissioner also said measures have been taken to ensure that information about the retirees are not hacked.
“About the safety mechanisms, like I told you, we are aware of what is happening in the cyber world and that is why we put in some control mechanisms, that is why you heard me mention about authorisation, there are people who will authorise from the various PDOs in the ministries, agencies and departments,” he said.
“Once we have the authorisation from that place, the same thing will have to be verified at the other end.
“This training session and the people you see here are pension desk officers (PDOs) from the various MDAs.
“These would-be retirees are from these MDAs, so automatically the information is at their doorsteps, and those that are not computer literate is why this training is germane, these desk officers will put them through to ensure that the right information is provided.”
Also speaking, Abdulhaman Saleem, head contribution, bound and redemption of the commission, said receiving information electronically will enable PenCom to process the benefits of the retirees faster.
“The number of retirees we are expecting, we are looking at 11,000 retirees for 2021, and the major benefit is accuracy and timeliness in terms of processing speed,” Saleem said.
“Initially we were doing manually, physically, collecting documents but now the documents will be sent electronically which makes it faster and easier to process.”
News
Rivers: Wike, Magnus Abe settle long-standing rift
Rivers: Wike, Magnus Abe settle long-standing rift
In a move to mend fences and foster unity within the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Rivers State, a former lawmaker, Senator Magnus Abe, has publicly announced making peace with the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Nyesom Wike.
Abe, who had been embroiled in a feud with Wike due to their different positions on political issues, expressed his commitment to ending the rift.
The former lawmaker said in his Facebook post, “I have made peace with the Honourable Minister of the FCT, and former governor of Rivers State.”
Emphasising the importance of unity, Abe said he accompanied Wike to Chief Tony Okocha’s thanksgiving ceremony, a gesture he described as “show[ing] that my commitment to end the rift in our party is total.”
Abe commended Wike’s approach to resolving the conflict, stating, “I want to publicly thank the minister; he (Wike) could have behaved like other politicians—made peace with me, and still encourage me, Tony (Okocha) and others to continue fighting. But his style is direct, truthful, and sincere, and it will create a united team.”
He expressed his belief that the APC in Rivers State would benefit from the “process of peaceful reunification and reintegration.”
Abe further said, “The disagreements within are over and done for good because the oxygen for conflict has been extinguished.”
He acknowledged that while it might take time, the result would be a united front, as “all those with us, who sincerely wish us well, will go with us and tow the path of unity because we all know that it is the right way to go.”
Extending his gratitude to Okocha, who hosted the thanksgiving ceremony, Abe said, “Let me also thank Chief Okocha; of course, he knew I was coming, and he received me well.”
Reaffirming his allegiance to the APC, Abe declared, “My home is in the APC. Let us come together. Everyone will benefit from us working together.”
While acknowledging the need for further discussions, Abe urged the party faithful to focus on the economy for the time being.
“When it is time, we will speak. For now, make I dey my dey. Let us focus on the economy. God bless you all,” he stated.
In July 2022, the former representative of Rivers South-East Senatorial District at the National Assembly dumped the APC in Rivers State.
However, Abe, who was the Rivers State governorship candidate of the Social Democratic Party in the 2023 election, formally announced his return to the APC in January 2024.
Abe dumped the APC for the SDP ahead of the 2023 election, where he secured the party’s ticket to contest the governorship election.
Rivers: Wike, Magnus Abe settle long-standing rift
News
Yahaya Bello govt spending third term in office through Ododo – Clark
Yahaya Bello govt spending third term in office through Ododo – Clark
Elder statesman, Chief Edwin Clark, says the former Kogi State Governor, Yahaya Bello, administration was nothing to write home about.
This is even as he asked the embattled former governor to surrender himself to the authorities.
Bello has been in the news for days on end over money laundering and financial impropriety.
He was declared wanted after he evaded the economic and financial crimes commission (EFCC) who had stormed his Abuja residence to apprehend him.
Speaking on Bello’s time as the governor of the middle belt state, Clark, who is the leader of the Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF, stated that state sponsored violence, corruption, civilian repression and political killings were rife when Bello was in office.
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Clark also pointed out that Bello is still running the show in Kogi state as he is currently spending third term in power through the incumbent governor, Ododo, who he planted in office.
“Yahaya Bello is just being stubborn. He has been living very very rough…having a very rough government, corruption, killing of people in the place during elections and so on,” Clark said during an interview on Arise TV on Thursday.
“There’s time for everything and it has come for him to answer questions. He should go to court. He should go to court to answer the substance of the case, where did he get the money from?
“Is it true or not that the money he paid to the American school belongs to him or belongs to the government of Kogi State?
“The behaviour of the new Governor shows Yahaya Bello is in power for the third time. Ahmed Ododo is just running after him.
“I just want to plead with Ododo to do the needful so that the youth in this country will have something to fall upon.”
Yahaya Bello govt spending third term in office through Ododo – Clark
News
‘Unfounded accusation’ – Obi slams Umahi over instigation of Igbo against Tinubu claim
‘Unfounded accusation’ – Obi slams Umahi over instigation of Igbo against Tinubu claim
Labour Party presidential candidate in the 2023 general elections, Peter Obi, says he is not in the business of whipping up ethnic sentiments or amplifying Nigeria’s fault lines to gain socio-political mileage.
Obi said this reaction to comment made by the Minister of Works, David Umahi, at an event on Wednesday on the Lagos-Calabar road project.
Obi has been vocal in his criticism of the road project, calling it a misplaced priority as it is not what Nigeria needs at a time of lean resources and plethora of challenges begging for drastic solution.
Umahi while speaking at the event said Obi’s position on the Lagos-Calabar coastal road project amounted to pitting Nigerians of Eastern extraction, who are majorly Igbos, against the government of President Bola Tinubu.
He also accused Obi of demolishing property without compensating those affected when he was Anambra governor, Obi was inciting South Easterners against the government
“When His Excellency Peter Obi was the governor. He made a statement saying, “Any infrastructure that stands in the way of the road must go. And there would be no compensation paid.” That’s what he said,” Umahi said.
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“And I think he’s inciting some of the South-East people that are not well informed. He is inciting them. And gets them into trouble,” he added
Reacting to Umahi’s allegation of divisiveness and sedition in a statement on Wednesday, Obi opined that he is a preacher of peace and advocate of unity who always wants what is best for the country.
Obi, who described criticisms that he is inciting Igbo against Tinubu’s government as baseless, stated that he won’t wallow in the murky water of divisive ethnic politics like many of his contemporaries and opponents do.
He stated, “My focus is on fostering constructive dialogue and inclusivity, rather than engaging in divisive politics, Claims of incitement are baseless distractions. I have always advocated unity and advancement, refusing to partake in reactionary divisive politics.
“I refuse to be reduced to the level of those who wallow in ethnic politics. Worse still, I have never and can never descend so low as to base my political aspirations on any sectional or ethnic interest.”
The former Anambra governor also said there were no comparisons between the demolition he did when he was governor and what the Tinubu-led government was currently doing.
‘Unfounded accusation’ – Obi slams Umahi over instigation of Igbo against Tinubu claim
Rivers: Wike, Magnus Abe settle long-standing rift
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