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Resolving the Jigsaw over military pension
There is wisdom in the
truism that one who
labours should not labour in vain, but should expect one’s fruit of labour. True, working for an establishment for a long period demands that such an establishment, in appreciation, has to compensate one after retirement. Considering the years of assiduity, diligence, dedication and loyalty one rendered. One way of doing this, apart from the gratuity system, is through the pension scheme, which is a monthly fraction of the percentage of one’s salary during working years, which is due to one after, one’s-retirement from service. Both public and private sectors have their pension schemes, which vary from their method of operation and deliverance. While in Nigeria, pension in public service is calculated based on worker’s salary scale and paid to the worker after his or her retirement, in the organised private sector (OPS), it is, mostly, administered through contributory fund, which can be disappointing, considering the embezzlement of such fund, as seen not long ago in the United States through the scandal that rocked the electric giant, Enron.
Crisis of pension in Nigeria:
In recent years, the problem of administering pension fund to retired workers in Nigeria has become -awesome, painful and regrettable. This is because of obstacles, gridlocks, frustrations, despair and misery often encountered by pensioners in attempts to secure their lifetime entitlements. More often than not, pensioners are subjected to unnecessary arrears of pension dues, running into several months or even years. As a result, there have been frequent media reports .about such victims of pension logjam in the country giving up the ghost or committing suicide because of the unbearable strains and humiliations they suffered in trying’ to secure their pension. Some of the pensioners have encountered family problems, including marital friction and juvenile delinquency, on account of their inability to make all ends meet. Inevitably, some of them have turned to street begging or deviant acts like crime as a saving grace, as well as a way of keeping body and soul together.
The military pension saga:
However, one of the sectors terribly plagued by pension jigsaw or saga in Nigeria, apart from the Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC), is the Anned Forces. This is unheard-of, and unprecedented, given that the problem of disbursing pension fund in. the critical sector of the military in the past was minimal and insignificant, when compared to what is being witnessed in recent years. Particularly in Lagos and Abuja, ex-servicemen have converged around military or defence formations and pitch their tents around them and inured to the sunny, , harsh weather of a dry season or chilly cold period of the rainy season, awaiting the uncertain settlement of their catalogue of arrears of pension.
Although once-in-a-while the Federal Government and the military authorities do give assurances about resolving the dismal pension scenario in the Anned Forces, which they often attribute to echoes of years of accumulated pension problem, the development seems to show no sign of abating. This is captured by the chaotic and pathetic picture of military pensioners still complaining and agonising about their fate and milling around the major roads and streets of Lagos and Abuja, begging to be assisted with even a peanut to enable them weather the storm of their unpaid arrears.
Factors behind the military pension crisis:
Nevertheless, while commending the Federal Government and the military authorities for taking the bull by the horns by tackling some of the arrears of pension owed to pensioners about last year through the Military Pension Board, it is worthy of note that the underlying factors behind the pension crisis should be addressed with political will, commitment and compassion. These factors chiefly include:
(a) The bureaucratic red tapes involved in compiling, documenting, auditing and paying the pensioners, which have precipitated long delays and inactions that have not only threatened to undermine the military pension scheme in the country but have also unleashed unparallel suffering, misery and condescension on the pensioners.
Frequent cases of corruption revolving around the military pension.
The underserved and out-of-touch perception that members of the military ought to be Spartan and overbearing in nature, which has been extended to ex-servicemen who are supposed to receive their pension as and when due and lack of breath-taking reform in the general administration of pension scheme in Nigeria, which has occasioned the National Pension Bill before the National Assembly.
The way out of the crisis:
Having highlighted the appalling and perturbing state of military pension scheme in Nigeria and several factors undergirding the problem, the hands of the Federal Government and the military authorities should now be on deck to reverse the ugly trend. To this end, the setting up of the Military Pension Board is a step in the right ‘direction and every effort should be made to ensure that the Board is not caught in the quicksand of bureaucratic inefficiency and corruption
Conclusion:
. In all, there is an overwhelming need for attitudinal change towards ex-service men and women in Nigeria, considering the conspicuous, heroic role they had played in the areas of securing our territorial integrity and maintaining our national unity. Thus, their sacrifices in nation building and national security should not be allowed to be in vain. Instead, both the military pensioners and those still serving in the Armed Forces should be treated with utmost care and respect and given their motivational entitlements.
Hon. Gambo is representing Katsina central federal constituency in the House of Representatives, Abuja. |
The gale of ethno-
religious violence
sweeping through the country since the reemergence of Obasanjo on the Nigerian political scene in 1999 has been rather chilling. Chilling in the sense that there will either be no one left standing at the end of this cyclone at the rate things are going. From my reading of the situation, these ethnic stocks or those that profess the Islamic religion appear to be fair game for extermination. But the irony in this tragic drama is the demonisation of the victims by the perpetrators of the violence with the active connivance of the press.
The latest in this unending macabre dance, which may be termed “turn by turn” (apologies to Bode George), took place in Numan, a serene town lying on the banks of the Benue River in Adamawa State. On June 8, 2003, a lady evangelist was killed in circumstances yet to be unravelled. It was alleged that a water hawker, who was said to be a Hausa man was arrested for the murder. This gave a chance to ethnic irredentists and religious bigots to unleash a bedlam never seen in the town. But if the truth be told, these agents of darkness have been spoiling for a fight for some time and the murder was a perfect ruse to commit their dastardly act. The ethnic identity of the alleged murderer is still a subject of controversy but stereotypes have to be maintained to afford those thirsty for blood satiate their lust. The demons that possess these vagrants parading as leaders have to be satiated with human blood. Ever wonder why cultism is prevalent in our tertiary institutions? The muscle flexing started during the campaigns for the 2003 general elections. When the ANPP gubernatorial candidate, Adamu Modibbo and his campaign train berthed at Numan and decided to pay a courtesy call on the now deposed Hama Bachama, they only managed to escape by the thin skin of their teeth from death squads armed with all manner of weapons.
Now a year to the day of last year’s mayhem, a far worse and much more gruesome genocide took place in Numan, Gyawana and Lamurde. The stories I heard when I visited Numan were enough to freeze one’s blood. In Gyawana, Muslim faithfuls numbering about 27 who had gone to the mosque for their early morning prayer were massacred; nomadic Fulani who had their encampment around the area were also not spared. Yet those who commit such atrocities are protected and pampered rather than be prosecuted. Even Genghis Khan and his barbarians were not this barbaric. It makes you think of Hitler’s Dr. Mengeles a saint.
The purported cause of this latest orgy was the height of the minaret of the Numan central mosque undergoing re-construction. This mosque was burnt down during last year’s havoc. The justification is that the minaret is far taller than the height of the palace walls. But by all accounts, the destroyed mosque and its minaret have been in existence at that same spot for upwards of fifty years and no previous Hama Bachama complained of being spied on from the pinnacle of the minaret. For one, no one climbs a minaret for any religious activity and it is just a symbol of a mosque wherever you find one; for another, I know for a fact that part of the palace wall has collapsed for long and is only covered by corrugated roofing sheets, yet no one complained of that. Lest I be misunderstood, I am not trying to denigrate the Bachama traditional institution but simply stating a fact. Also the Bell Tower of the LCCN church that is situated just a stone’s throw from the palace happens to be the tallest structure in Numan, which is visible from about eleven kilometres from the town from whichever approach.
In the aftermath of the bloodletting orgy, the state government deposed the Hama Bachama and relocated the mosque to another location as part of measures to remove hurdles to restoring peace. Unfortunately both the Bachamas and the Islamic Council in Adamawa are proving to be recalcitrant. While the Bachamas are adamant that their traditional ruler must be reinstated, the Islamic Council on the other hand are standing firm that the mosque should not be relocated for whatever reason to any part of Numan. But it is this same attitude that led to the blood bath in the first place.
I think it is time we show understanding to each other’s feelings and make sacrifices for peace to reign in this country. We should as much as possible try to find out what demons possess our souls and those of our leaders since 1999 that make friends turn against friends and neighbours against neighbours. We weren’t this barbaric before Obasanjo took over power. Why the sudden spate of wanton killings and destructions? Why can’t we explore those bonds that are common to us but choose to exploit those that are divisive and destructive to us?
I have never found cause to agree with Boni Haruna’s policies, but on this, I am one with him. We should all make sacrifices no matter how painful (real or imaginary) for the sake of those who lost their lives. The Islamic Council should co-operate with the state government and ensure the mosque is moved out of the contentious area even if it means taking it to Demsa. The most important thing is for the Muslims in Numan to be able to practice their religious obligations without any molestation or fear. As to the Bacahamas they should also know that the state government must have a dossier on the security liability the Hama Bachama constituted to warrant his deposition and so therefore should allow the deposition be. Taking rigid positions wouldn’t help anybody apart from angels of darkness and merchants of death.
We should collectively pray to God to exorcise whatever demons are in charge of our land. For some of us know, we may be in this situation because we allowed a fraud to be committed during last year’s elections and the gods might have chosen to punish all of us collectively for being mute or indifferent in the face of injustice. Some of us are even collaborators for a simple pot of porridge. Since it appears the state government is serious about bringing lasting peace to this trouble area, it should go the whole hog and do whatever it takes.
I may be the wrong person to offer suggestions on where to start, but nonetheless, I would suggest as a starting point, the government should as a matter of urgency implement the white paper on last year’s crisis. This happens to be one of the demands of the Islamic Council but was ignored by the government’s apologists for no discernible reason. But the truth of the matter is that, those found guilty must be brought to justice to serve as a deterrent to other would-be troublemakers no matter how highly placed they are. I would also advice governor Boni Haruna to really, really search inwards and find out why there has been spate of unrest in the state since 2003. From 1999 to 2002, Boni governed a relatively stable state; but from the year 2003 the story changed. The once peaceful state began experiencing skirmishes.
The governor should try to locate the factors that are responsible for the breach of peace from the beginning of 2003. He should do well by beginning from his lieutenants and close aides; who were with him from 1999 and who came on-board from 2002. He may find his answer there. The use of the ANPP’s judicial challenge of his electoral fraud isn’t responsible for the breach of peace. There are people out there who profit from mayhem and chaos. The sooner he flushes them out the better for him.
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