•Edo leads
Civil servants in Akwa Ibom, Cross River and Bayelsa States may not retire well due to the non-implementation and compliance of pension laws by their governors.
But civil servants of Edo, Delta and Rivers states have a lot to benefit upon retirement as their state governors have complied with the pension laws, with Edo standing out as the best.
The Nation found this in a document by the National Pension Commission (PenCom) titled, “Status of Implementation of the Contributory (Pension Scheme (CPS) in States of South-South Zone as at June 30, 2022.
Akwa Ibom
Although Akwa Ibom State government drafted a Bill on CPS in 2017, it is yet to enact a law on the CPS to guide implementation of the scheme.Besides it is yet to establish a Pension Bureau; or register the employees with PFAs; and it has not began remittance of pension contributions for the employees.
The state is also yet to conduct an actuarial valuation to determine the employees’ Accrued Pension Rights. It is yet to open a Retirement Benefits Bond Redemption Fund Account.It is yet to commence funding of the Accrued Pension Rights; and institute a Group Life Insurance Policy for the employees.
Cross River
In the same vein, Rivers State Government has drafted a Bill on the CPS in 2021 but is yet to enact a Law on the CPS to guide implementation of the scheme.
The state government is also yet to establish a Pension Bureau or register the employees with PFAs.It is yet to commence remittance of Pension Contributions for the employees.It has not conducted an Actuarial Valuation to determine the employees’ Accrued Pension Rights or open a Retirement Benefits Bond Redemption Fund Account.The state is yet to commence funding of the Accrued Pension Rights or institute a Group Life Insurance Policy.
Bayelsa
While the Bayelsa State Government enacted a Law on the CPS in 2009 and established two Pension Bureaus for State and Local Governments, it is yet to register the employees with Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) It is yet to commence remittance of Pension Contributions or conduct an Actuarial Valuation to determine the employees’ Accrued Pension Rights. The state is yet to open a Retirement Benefits Bond Redemption Fund Account or commence funding of the Accrued Pension Rights; and yet to institute a Group Life Insurance Policy.
Best state Edo
The best pension state however, is Edo State. The state government enacted a Law on the CPS in 2010 with an amended Law in 2017.
The state has also established a Pension Bureau; registered the State Employees with PFAs; Remitting 10 per cent employer and 8 eight employee pension contributions; conducted an actuarial valuations to determine the employee’s accrued pension rights; Has a valid Group Life Insurance Policy; opened a Retirement Benefits Bond Redemptions Fund Account with a PFA; and commenced funding of accrued pension rights.
Delta
While Delta State has huge arrears of Accrued Pension Rights and is yet to institute a Group Life Insurance Policy, it has enacted a Law on the CPS in 2008 (amended the Law 2011), the state established two Pension Bureaus for State and Local Governments; registered the employees with PFAs; remitting 10 per cent employer and 7.5 per cent employee pension contributions with remitted pension contributions up to January 2022 for employees of the state and up to July 2021 for employees of the local governments.
The state has also conducted actuarial valuations to determine the employee’s accrued pension rights; opened Retirement Benefits Bond Redemption Fund Accounts with the CBN; and funding the accrued pension rights regularly.
Rivers
In the case of Rivers State, the government is yet to conduct an Actuarial Valuation to determine the employees’ Accrued Pension Rights; yet to commence funding of the Retirement Benefits Bond Redemption Fund Account; and yet to institute a Group Life Insurance Policy.
But the state has enacted a Law on the CPS in 2009 which was repealed and re-enacted the Pension Law in 2019 with the transition period extended to 2022 .It established a Pension Bureau, registered the Employees with PFAs, remitted 7.5 per cent employer and 7.5 per cent employee pension contributions under the repealed law.
The government, however, stopped remitting the employer contributions in 2016 but the contributions under the repealed law are now being refunded.
Although remittance of employee contributions have commenced under the new law, the remittance of employer contributions are yet to commence.
Besides this, the government opened a Retirement Benefits Bond Redemption Fund Account with a PFA.
It is, however, yet to conduct an actuarial valuation to determine the employees’ Accrued Pension Rights.
The goverment has not commenced funding of the Retirement Benefits Bond Redemption Fund Account or instituted a Group Life Insurance Policy.
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