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Nasarawa, Kogi Retirees Want Upward Review of Pension

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Residents of Nasarawa and Kogi on Monday advocated the reform of Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), saying it has not met the expectations of pensioners.Some pensioners who spoketo our correspondent in Lokoja on Monday said they were not impressed with the manner some of the pension administrators were treating them.

Mr Dare Olukaiyeja, a retired director in the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security said his experience after retirement was unfortunate given the manner his pension administrators handled his monthly pension.
The director, in expressing his pain, said he got his gratuity and pension almost two years after retirement.Though, he admitted that his monthly pension was being paid regularly.
“I never knew that it would take me almost two years before my retirement benefits would be paid.“This is because the delay was contrary to what they always made workers to believe before their retirement.“I think government should look into the unnecessary delays in payment of retirees’ retirement benefits so as not to send some persons to their early graves.“The CPS should be reformed to allow contributors take away their Retired Saving Account (RSA) balance 100 per cent,” Olukaiyeja said.Mr Kola Adeyemi, a retired Deputy Director in News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), said he retired in October 2021, and had a fair experience with the CPS.“I retired on October 10, 2021, and I got my benefits 14 months. I think that was fair compared to some that take over two or three years.“In my case, the delay was due to a mistake I made while filling my form. I filled the form twice, and this led to a shift in the schedule time I was to be paid.“Again, I have been getting my monthly pension regularly, particularly on the 20th of every month from my PFA. CPS is a close ended arrangement, this is should be looked into.“All the same, there is need for review to know exactly what CPS is set out to achieve and not only to take off the burden of paying monthly pensions to retirees from FG,” he said.Another retiree, Mr Ahmed Dada, expressed mixed feelings about his experience on the contributory pension.Dada said: “It has been mixed feelings for me as my monthly pension is nothing to write home about”.Like Adeyemi, Dada said he got his maiden pension benefits in 2021, having waited for 15 months.The retired director said that he has been getting his monthly pension regularly from his pension fund administrator.“This class of Nigerian retirees, especially those on the CPS are really passing through hell coping with the current economic hardships in the country,” Dada said.Mr Oladipo Agaja, who retired from Kogi Local Government Service on Grade Level 14 said that he only got N120, 000 as part of his gratuity since he retired in 2010.He said: “I cannot remember the amount I am entitled to but as a retired Head of Department of Works, I took home that amount at my retirement as salary.“I now collect a monthly pension of N39, 000. Thanks to this present administration which came to upgrade the monthly payment, because as at last year I was earning between N9,000 and N18,000 as pension.Agada appealed to the state and Federal Government to establish uniform rules and standards of administration on pension.A retired educationist, Mrs Ladun Gbadebo, who worked in the state ministry of education said there was need to scrutinise pension staffer following alleged shady activities going on in the pension administrators’ offices.Gbadebo noted that the administration of pension in Nigeria had been marred by policy inconsistencies.She highlighted major problems of the pension scheme as delay in payment of pensions and gratuities to deserving retirees, lack of accountability and poor management.According to her, pension system was faces the challenges of lack of transparency and inaccurate pensioners’ records, among others.“All these challenges have pushed many pensioners into untold hardship, such as abject poverty, ill health.“Many have resorted to begging for survival while others have died waiting for the payments of their gratuities and pension,” she said.Mrs Florence Aina, who retired from Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps, called on government at all levels to always remember pensioners as much as they remember those still in service.Aina said financially, the pensioners need to be adequately catered for because being senior citizens they usually have some health challenges.“I expect government to put emphasis on pensioners, such that when other sectors get a pay increase, they should also have.“This is because what affects serving civil servants affect them too because they all buy from the same market.In Nasarawa State retirees appealed to the state government for an upward review of their pension entitlements.According to the senior citizens, they have not benefited from three consecutive national minimum wage increments in Nasarawa State.Mr Samuel Tabe, a pensioner said that pensioners in Nasarawa State were going through tough times as some receive as low as N5, 000 as pension.“This is the third national minimum wage they are working on and none was added to the pensioners in Nasarawa state.“Everybody is keeping quiet; nobody is talking about the pensioners,” he said.Tabe, who retired in 2013, said he started receiving his pension payment immediately after he exited from the service.“I am not satisfied with the current system regarding gratuity payment, unlike those days when somebody retires his benefits will be worked out for him.“When you eventually leave the service, the highest you stay before you can receive your gratuity is 3 to 4 months, thereafter your gratuity is being paid. But it is not like that today.“Since I retired from the service in 2013 till date my gratuity has not been paid, I have up to N8 million as my gratuity,” he said.Mr Matthew Tukura, a new retiree, urged the agencies responsible for the payment of retirees’ benefits to make provision for their accumulated entitlements at once rather than paying in piecemeal.“Even if the government cannot pay retirees their entitlements at once half of it should be paid. If such sum is paid at once they can go into business like poultry, fish and livestock farming’’, he said.Tukura raised concern over the delayed payment of gratuity in the state.“To treat senior citizens like that is not the best; it doesn’t show respect for labour and services after serving for 35 years.“So, government and other agencies responsible for pension matters should review the pension so that our senior citizens can enjoy their lives after retirement,” he said.Mr Peter Ahemba, Senior Special Assistant on Public Affairs to Gov. Abdullahi Sule, assured that the government would review the payment of pension upward to enable pensioners enjoy increments accrued from the new minimum wage.He said Sule’s administration was sensitive to the plight of the senior citizens as he maintained regular payment of pension in the state since he became governor.“Retired civil servants in Nasarawa State enjoy their pension almost immediately after retirement.“ It does not take time because when you are about to retire your pension is processed by relevant offices as quickly as possible.“Government has plans to review the pension upward because of the new national minimum wage; pensioners should be patient with the government.“The government is sensitive to the plights of the pensioners, every pensioner will get what is due to him or her,” he said. (NAN)

Foreign News

Israel Vows to Build Jewish Settlements, Rejects Macron’s Call for Palestinian State

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“Do not threaten Israel with sanctions” as it will continue to build a “Jewish state” on the ground,” Israeli Defense Minister, Israel Katz, warned on Friday.He also rebuffed a call by French President Emmanuel Macron for establishing a Palestinian State.In open defiance of international law, Katz claimed that world powers may recognize a Palestinian state “on paper.

”Katz made the remarks during a visit to Sa-Nur, an illegal outpost in the northern West Bank that the Tel Aviv government recently decided to officially designate as a settlement for illegal Israeli settlers.
In a direct message, Defense Minister Israel Katz targets French President Macron and European allies.He also dismissed the potential international consequences.
He said: “They will recognise a Palestinian state on paper, while we will build the Jewish Israeli state on the ground.“Don’t threaten us with sanctions. You will not make us bow.“The State of Israel will not kneel before threats.”His comments came hours after President Macron stated that recognising the State of Palestine was a “moral duty”.Macron also reiterated that France may move toward official recognition during an upcoming international conference focused on the two-state solution.Earlier this week, Israeli newspaper Yedioth Ahronoth reported that the Israeli Security Cabinet had secretly approved the establishment of 22 new illegal settlements in the occupied West Bank.In response, the Israeli anti-settlement group Peace Now issued a statement Thursday, revealing that 12 of the newly approved settlements were previously unauthorised outposts and farming sites established in recent years.According to Peace Now, there are currently 156 illegal settlements and 224 outposts across the occupied West Bank, including East Jerusalem, with over 736,000 illegal Israeli settlers living on occupied Palestinian land.The international community, including the UN, considers the Israeli settlements illegal under international law.The UN has repeatedly warned that continued settlement expansion threatens the viability of a two-state solution, a framework seen as key to resolving the decades-long Palestinian-Israeli conflict.In July 2024, the International Court of Justice declared Israel’s decades-long occupation of Palestinian land illegal and demanded the evacuation of all existing settlements in the West Bank and East Jerusalem.(AA/NAN)

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Stock Market Sheds N48bn Amid Sell-offs

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The stock market on Friday closed the week on a bearish note, as key performance indicators dipped by 0.07 per cent.Specifically, the market capitalisation declined by N48 billion, or 0.07 per cent, to N70.462 trillion from N70.510 trillion recorded on Thursday.The All-Share Index also dropped by 0.

07 per cent or 76.07 points to close at 111,742.
01 down from 111,818.08 posted on Thursday.
The decline was largely attributed to sell-offs in heavyweight stocks like Beta Glass, NCR Nigeria, Conoil, Legend Internet and 33 others.Also, the market breadth closed negative with 37 stocks declining against 28 gainers.On the flip side, Beta Glass declined by 10 per cent, closing at N232.65 while NCR Nigeria also lost by 10 per cent, finishing at N6.
57 per share.Conoil dropped by 9.99 per cent, settling at N298.10 and Legend Internet fell by 9.94 per cent, closing at N6.16 per shareAlso, Industrial Medical Gases shed by 9.91 per cent, ending the session at N33.65 per share.On the gainers’ chart, Omatek grew by 9.86 per cent, settling at 78k while Red Star Express climbed by 9.62 per cent, closing at N8.32 per share.Deap Capital Management rose by 9.38 per cent, finishing at N1.05 and Sovereign Trust Insurance soared by 9.09 per cent, ending the session at N1.08 per share.May and Baker also increased by 8.26 per cent, closing at N11.80 per share.A total of 1.90 billion shares valued at N64.14 billion were traded across 18,653 transactions, in contrast to the 556.45 million shares worth N17.17 billion exchanged across 18,505 deals on Thursday.Transactions in the shares of United Bank for Africa topped the activity chart with 1.41 billion shares worth N49.02 billion.United Capital followed with 66.84 million shares valued at N1.32 billion while Access Corporation sold 53.97 million shares worth N1.19 billion.Fidelity Bank traded 31.38 million shares valued at N606.09 million and Zenith Bank transacted 29.93 million shares worth N1.46 billion. (NAN)

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Customs Intercepts 39,425 Litres of Smuggled Petrol

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The Comptroller-General of the Nigeria Customs Service, Bashir Adeniyi, said Operation Whirlwind intercepted 39,425 litres of petrol worth ₦39.4 million within Lagos-Ogun axis. Mr Adeniyi disclosed this on Friday at a news conference in Lagos, organised following recent petroleum product seizures by Operation Whirlwind at the Federal Operations Unit, Ikeja.

Represented by the National Coordinator of Operation Whirlwind, Asst.
Comptroller-General Hussein Ejibunu, Adeniyi said it marked another milestone by operatives in the Lagos-Ogun axis. He attributed the success to officers’ dedication, commitment and resilience over the past year within the zone. Adeniyi said the Office of the National Security Adviser, NMDPRA, and Attorney General’s office all commended Customs’ efforts in intercepting smuggled petroleum products.
He said, “On May 23, we were in Yola for a similar exercise where over 46,000 litres of seized PMS were auctioned. “Today, we are conducting another auction following seizures made at Laro, Imeko, Badagry, Owode, Ajilete, and other flashpoints.” He added that investigations confirmed the petrol was intended for smuggling into Benin Republic. A total of 1,577 jerrycans of 25 litres each — amounting to 39,425 litres — were seized, along with eight vehicles used for transportation. Adeniyi stated that the seized petrol had a duty paid value of ₦39.4 million, and the vehicles were valued at ₦24 million, totalling ₦63.4 million. He reiterated that there was no safe haven for smugglers, and Customs would continue disrupting illegal activities to the barest minimum. The CGC directed that the seized petrol be auctioned immediately to Nigerians in 25-litre jerrycans at ₦10,000 each. He thanked strategic partners—ONSA, the Attorney General’s office and NMDPRA—for their unwavering support and cooperation. Adeniyi added that the success of Operation Whirlwind was due to strong collaboration with these agencies. “Since Operation Whirlwind began in 2025, Customs officers have not fired a single shot, and four suspects are currently facing trial,” he said. Comptroller Charles Orbih, Zonal Coordinator, Zone ‘A’ of NCS, reaffirmed the service’s commitment to protect Nigeria’s economy and ensure policy benefits reach all citizens. He noted that every litre smuggled across the borders causes revenue loss, scarcity, market instability and weakens energy security. “Operation Whirlwind, launched by the National Security Adviser’s office, proves Nigeria Customs is capable of defending and securing the nation’s borders,” Orbih stated. Comptroller Muhammed Shuaibu, FOU Zone ‘A’, commended Customs Management for the success achieved during Operation Whirlwind. He said the seizure was a joint effort by officers committed to combating smuggling and protecting the nation’s borders. He added that the seizure would help revive the economy, and Customs would maintain its focus on revenue generation and supporting legitimate trade. Mr Patrick Musa, of the NSA’s Lagos Zonal office (NMDPRA), said the operation proved Customs’ competence in border protection. He noted that NMDPRA, mandated with petroleum distribution, would continue collaborating with Customs and other agencies to stop petrol smuggling. Mrs Abidemi Aluko, representing the Attorney General’s office, appreciated the CGC, Customs officers and partner agencies for curbing petrol smuggling. “This is not business as usual. Suspects are currently under investigation for illegal petroleum dealings and will face trial,” she said. Quoting relevant laws, she stated the offence carries a sentence of life imprisonment or a fine, including forfeiture of transport means. “The Federal Government remains committed to prosecuting and bringing to justice those involved in petrol smuggling,” Aluko added. She called on sister agencies and stakeholders to strengthen collaboration to fight economic sabotage. In his closing remarks, ACG Kola Oladeji thanked the CGC for his leadership and enabling environment that contributed to the operation’s success. Oladeji urged officers to stay committed and intensify efforts to enhance national security. (NAN)

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