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Reps Committee Probe Non-Remittance of Pension Contributions By FCT Area Councils

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By Gloria Ikibah

The House of Representatives Copmmittee on the Federal Capital Territory Area Councils and Ancillary Matters has decided to investigate the failure of the six area councils to remit pension contributions to the Area Council Staff Pension Board.

This decision came after a motion was adopted during a session where the Board Director, Suleman Abdulrahman, appeared before the Committee on Wednesday.

The meeting was part of the Committee’s review of budget performance for 2024 in preparation for the 2025 budget cycle. During the session, Abdulrahman informed lawmakers that remittances had been inconsistent.

“By law and according to the pension reform act, each deduction from salaries in respect to pension is supposed to be remitted seven days after payment of salary, but unfortunately at the area councils that’s not what is happening. Sometimes they owe two to three months before remittance.
“The staff pay their employee contribution which is the 8 percent and 10 percent for the employer. It is remitted to their PFA accordingly from the area councils,” he said.
The Chairman of the Committee, Rep. Fred Agbedi demanded that the agency furnish it with the records pertaining to the matter.
“Furnish us with the details so we can know why the area councils are defaulting in their remittance.
“Let someone move a motion for us to investigate the discrepancies and delay in area councils remitting because salaries are paid monthly.
“The Committee should investigate the failure of the remittance from the area councils to the pension account,” Agbedi said.
The Chairman directed the Clerk to write to all six area councils, requesting detailed records of up-to-date pension contribution remittances for their employees.

The Committee also questioned Abdulrahman on why the Board received more funds than were allocated in the 2024 budget.

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Documents submitted by the Board indicated that while the total appropriation for pensioner costs was ₦131,148,262, the Board received ₦151,137,417.

In response, Abdulrahman explained that the excess in salary variations was due to increase in the minimum wage.

“The personnel cost of all FCT staff is centralised with the treasury department and you are aware of the recent salary adjustments as a result of minimum wage which increased the total receipt. We are in touch with the treasury department to get us the supplementary approval so that we can update our records.
“Principally what we do is that we superintend over pension matters in all the six area councils and LEA. Payment of monthly pensions and other benefits that accrue to our prospective retirees.
“Our summary of the budget performance for 2024 was we had a total of N1.1 billion which was the ceiling, which consists of the recurrent, the personnel and overheard.
“The personnel cost, we have 115 percent budget performance. The overhead, we have 40 percent performance, we don’t have capital projects. It’s just a service organisation on change of monthly pensions,” he said.
Agbedi said the Committee would embark on budget oversight to all the agencies.

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Protests erupt in Plateau over incessant k!llings

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Protests erupted in Jos, the Plateau State capital, on Monday morning over the continued killings of indigenous residents by gunmen suspected to be Fulani militants.

The demonstrations, led by Christian leaders including the state chairman of the Christian Association of Nigeria, Rev. Polycarp Lubo, commenced on Monday morning at the Fawvwei Junction community road, causing a heavy gridlock and stranding commuters.

The latest protest comes amid a surge in violent attacks by gunmen in various communities, with over 100 people killed in Bokkos and Bassa LGAS in the past two weeks.

“We are not happy over the continuous attacks and killings by gunmen in our communities. That’s why we have come out again to protest these happenings,” said Gyang Dalyop, one of the protesters.

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Another protester, Hannatu Philip, called on the government to intervene before it spirals out of control.

The protesters brandishing placards with different inscriptions were seen marching towards the Rayfield Government House.

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Tinubu not your equal – Presidency replies Peter Obi’s ex-running mate, Datti

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The Presidency has said the former Labour Party, LP, presidential running mate, Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed is no match for President Bola Tinubu.

Tinubu’s Special Adviser on Media and Public Communication, Sunday Dare was reacting to Datti’s remark that he (Tinubu) would not run for the presidency in 2027.

The former LP running mate insisted that Tinubu’s time is up, adding that everything is there for the president and the ruling All Progressives Party, APC, to see that they lose in 2027.

Dismissing such remark, Dare likened Datti’s comment to the new year predictions of charlatan ‘prophets’ which never come through.

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In a statement he signed, Dare said the likes of Peter Obi and Datti would have been president left for the latter’s theories.

According to Dare, Datti has chosen to venture into an unfamiliar terrain.

The statement reads partly: “Yusuf Datti Baba-Ahmed’s “illogical logic” was all over the place in his recent interview with a television channel.

“Listening to Yusuf Datti Baba- Ahmed spurn his postulations about the political future of Nigeria and that of the incumbent President is like listening to the new year predictions of charlatan ‘prophets’ which never come through. Yusuf Baba Ahmed and his co-traveller Peter Obi are indeed a “double whammy“ in the Nigerian political space.

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“He chose to base his political calculations on President Bola Tinubu not winning a second term given his antecedents and because Nigerians will decide at the polls among other things. He conveniently avoided the substance of performance and capacity.

“Unfortunately, he chose to walk into a lane he was unfamiliar with and chose to confront a politician he is no match for.”

Similarly, the Presidency had also stressed that Tinubu will reveal his plans for a second term at the right time.

It said the APC 2027 presidential campaign billboards had no links to Tinubu and Vice President Kashim Shettima.

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‘Conducting unfair election in 2027 will lead to Nigeria’s demise’ – Top Northern Politician Sends Warning To Tinubu

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Hakeem Baba-Ahmed, a former aide to Vice President Kashim Shettima has warned that any attempt by the government in power to manipulate the 2027 general elections will be resisted.

He also said that should the polls or its results be tampered with, this would create dire consequences for the country.

Baba-Ahmed said this in a viral video seen by 9NEWS NIGERIA.

The former leader of the Northern Elders Forum who just resigned his position as a presidential aide said conducting a bad election might lead to Nigeria’s end.

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“Conducting a bad election in 2027 may lead to the end of Nigeria, I swear to God,” Baba-Ahmed said.

He further stated that elders from the Northern region would soon take a stand on the nation’s politics ahead of the 2027 election.

“There will be a time we will come out and say it’s okay, and it’s soon. This injustice is over. We know who we are,” he warned.

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