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Economic hardship: Massive contingency withdrawals hit micro pension funds

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At the backdrop of heightened economic hardship subscribers to the micro-pension scheme have began to draw down on their contributions through contingency withdrawals.

The micro-pension plan, MPP, was created by the National Pension Commission to encourage low income group, mainly self employed and informal sector workers, to have a pension savings for their old age.

Financial Vanguard findings from pension data show that the contingent withdrawals by micro pension contributors in 2023 skyrocketed by 245.2 per cent to N21.4 million from N6.2 million recorded in 2022.

Also, the number of contributors that made contingent withdrawals increased by 68.4 per cent to 64 in 2023 from 38 recorded in 2022.

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Contingent withdrawals is that portion of the Retirement Savings Account, RSA, balance made available for withdrawal to ease financial pressures or needs of the micro pension contributor before his/her retirement.

The sharp rise in contingency withdrawals is coming at the backdrop of underperformance being recorded in the low income pension category, with the target enrollments completely off plan.

The scheme, one of the most strategic financial inclusion measures of the Federal Government packaged and implemented by the National Pension Commission, PenCom, had envisaged to enroll about nine million registrants by 2023, however only 114,382 contributors were registered as at end of 2023.

The data also show that total pension contributions to the micro pension stood at N680.2 million as at December 2023.

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Consequently, as the economic hardship continues to bite harder, some micro pension contributors are taking advantage of the contingent withdrawal option of the plan to withdraw from their pension savings.

Meanwhile, quarterly breakdown of the withdrawals in 2023 show that micro pension contributors withdrew N2.98 million in Q1’23.

The figure went up by 3.7 per cent to N3.09 million in Q2’23 and in Q3’23, the figure further increased by 238.5 per cent to N10.46 million, but dropped in Q4’23 to N4.87 million, a 53.4 per cent decline.

Experts’ insight

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Speaking on the development, Executive Director of the Center for Pension Rights Advocacy, Mr. Ivor Takor, stated that the rise in the withdrawals of pension savings could continue except government fixes the economy for the better.

He said: “The contingency plan is just part of encouragement for the contributors to know that if they are passing through any challenge, they can withdraw from the contingency plan.

“And the economy, like all of us know, is so bad, so the contributors cannot have that money standing there and they are dying of hunger or sickness.

“What the government can do is to fix the economy and do things well so that people will begin to have a meaningful life because even those of us who are working you cannot be having challenges and you have money in your savings account and you will not go for it. It is expected anyway, and the trend could continue. It can only improve and get better when the situation and welfare of citizens is better.”

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Also speaking, Managing Director of Achor Actuarial Services, Mr. Pius Apere stated that the MPP is designed to bring the self employed members of the public into the pension system with a view to safeguarding them from retirement age poverty.

Apere said: “The government must do all within its power to turn the economy around for the better to prevent further withdrawals from pension savings. An average Nigerian must have one form of pension scheme or the order; formal or informal and the micro pension plan can help us to include more Nigerians in the financial safety net. Micro pension can be made a big deal in Nigeria”.

According to the Director-General, PenCom, Mrs. Aisha Dahir-Umar, “The implementation of the micro pension plan will improve the standard of living of the informal sector participants at retirement and reduce dependence on extended family for support at retirement.”

She noted that the self-employed people and workers in the informal sector could reap financial and economic protection by participating in the plan, as the initiative will provide income at old age and inculcate a savings culture through highly protected and regulated investment.

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Trump threatens trade war on Mexico, Canada, China

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Trump made his threat in social media posts, announcing huge import tariffs against neighbours Canada and Mexico, and also rival China if they don’t stop illegal immigration and drug smuggling into the US.

China responded that “no one will win a trade war,” while Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum warned that “for every tariff, there will be a response in kind.”

A Canadian government source said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau called Trump and had a “productive” discussion, without giving further detail.

Such tariffs threaten to disrupt the global economy, deepen already fierce tensions with China, and upend relations with the US’s two largest neighbours.

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Nervous stock markets saw “volatile trading conditions” as they digested the news, said an analyst at City Index, Fawad Razaqzada.

On his Truth Social platform, Trump said late Monday that he would enact the tariffs when he takes office on January 20, 2025, if his — vaguely worded — demands were not met.

The posts signal Trump’s intention to return to the governing style of his first presidency when he regularly shocked Washington and US partners with abrupt, major policy shifts which he announced on social media.

They also confirmed that Trump is serious about his major campaign promise to use the US economic muscle as leverage on issues having little to do with trade — namely his claim that the US is under siege by foreign crime and dangerous migrants.

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On Tuesday, Trump named two important figures to his economic team: Jamieson Greer as his trade representative and Kevin Hassett as his top economic advisor, heading the White House National Economic Council.

Both had roles in his first administration, with Greer serving as the Chief of Staff to former US Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer.

“I will sign all necessary documents to charge Mexico and Canada a 25 per cent tariff on all products coming into the United States,” Trump earlier posted.

“This tariff will remain in effect until such time as drugs, in particular Fentanyl and all illegal aliens stop this invasion of our country!” he said.

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In another post, Trump said he would be slapping China with a 10 per cent tariff, “above any additional tariffs,” because the world’s second-biggest economy was failing to execute fentanyl smugglers.

The spokesman for China’s embassy in the US, Liu Pengyu, told AFP, “China believes that China-US economic and trade cooperation is mutually beneficial in nature.”

Mexico’s Sheinbaum fired back at Trump, saying his tariffs diplomacy was “not acceptable” and based on erroneous claims.

“It is not with threats or tariffs that the migration phenomenon will be stopped, nor the consumption of drugs in the United States,” she said.

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Sheinbaum pointed out that the Mexican narcotics industry largely exists to serve demand in the US.

“Seventy per cent of the illegal weapons seized from criminals in Mexico come from your country.

“Tragically, it is in our country that lives are lost to the violence resulting from meeting the drug demand in yours,” she said.

– Bluster or serious? –

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A senior adviser at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies, William Reinsch, said Trump’s online threats may be bluster — a strategy of “threaten and then negotiate.”

However, Trump’s first White House term was marked by an aggressive and protectionist trade agenda that also targeted China, Mexico and Canada, alongside Europe.

While in office, Trump launched an all-out trade war with China, imposing significant tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars of Chinese goods.

China responded with retaliatory tariffs on American products, particularly affecting US farmers.

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Economists say tariffs can hurt US growth and fuel inflation since they are paid by importers who often pass those costs on to consumers.

Trump has said he would put his Commerce Secretary-designate Howard Lutnick, a China hawk, in charge of trade policy.

AFP

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NDLEA relocates to new headquarters building in Abuja(Photos)

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. As Marwa charges personnel to remain focused, unrelenting in battle against drug cartels

The National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA, has relocated its headquarters to its new facility, which is being developed in phases in Jahi area of Abuja.
The facility, which is the first phase of the national headquarters project expected to be completed with the 2025 budgetary provisions, was officially unveiled during an interdenominational service within the complex on Wednesday 26th November 2024.
Speaking during the brief ceremony, Chairman/Chief Executive Officer of the Agency, Brig Gen Mohamed Buba Marwa (Rtd) said the development represents a phase in the transformation and recalibration of NDLEA into a modern and result-oriented anti-narcotic Agency, a process that began in January 2021.
“I’m glad we have finally moved in to occupy this facility after initial budgetary constraints. Even though this is the first phase of the new headquarters project, we are hopeful that we will be able to complete the process with next year budget. This is not 100% completed but it is sufficiently functional for us to move in because I was determined to move in before the end of 2024 because with the expansion of the Agency the headquarters also expanded, and in our old location we could not accommodate everyone. I have had to post out scores of officers due to lack of space for them to work.

“It was for this reason that the management took a unanimous decision that since it is not 100% ready and we need it, we should make it a low-key inauguration ceremony. This will enable us relocate some of our directorates still operating outside Abuja into one facility to consolidate our operations for efficiency, effectiveness and seamless coordination”, Marwa stated.
While stating that the old head office in Gimbiya, Garki area of the FCT will continue to serve as the headquarters annex, the NDLEA boss expressed gratitude to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his continued support and encouragement to the Agency to be in a position to achieve its mandate of curbing substance abuse and illicit drug trafficking in the country.
“The support we are getting from our international partners and local stakeholders especially President Bola Tinubu, the National Assembly, the Judiciary and the citizenry, is not just to appreciate our efforts but to encourage us to do more and I believe this new work environment will motivate you to surpass past feats”, Marwa told a crowd of excited management staff, officers and men of the Agency at the ceremony. He commended his predecessor for starting the process of getting a befitting headquarters for the Agency.
In his welcome remark, Secretary to the Agency, Shadrach Haruna, commended Marwa for providing inspiring leadership that has in three years transformed NDLEA into the same class with its counterparts across the world in terms of professionalism, capability and capacity.
“The commissioning of our headquarters today is part of the incremental but well-laid agenda for the repositioning of the Agency by the chairman. We have witnessed some monumental achievements since 2021, including increasing the staff strength of the Agency from 5,000 to 15,000. Promotion of officers, opening up of vacancies, payment of accumulated allowances to staff and widows of our fallen officers, the recent amendment of the Agency’s enabling law by the National Assembly, and many more.
Christian and Islamic prayers were offered for President Tinubu and Nigeria while a commemorative plaque was unveiled to mark the event.

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VP Shettima departs Nigeria for Côte d’Ivoire

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Vice President Kashim Shettima, on Wednesday, departed Abuja for Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire to attend the opening of the International Exhibition of Extractive and Energy Resources 2024 conference.

The event holds from November 27 to December 2, 2024, at the Abidjan Exhibition Centre.

Shettima’s visit is “At the invitation of Côte d’Ivoire’s Vice President Tiémoko Meyliet Koné,” Senior Special Assistant to the Vice President on Media and Communication, Mr. Stanley Nkwocha, said in a statement on Wednesday.

The statement is titled ‘VP Shettima Leaves For Abidjan, To Attend SIREXE 2024 Opening Ceremony.’

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SIREXE conference is an international event organised by the Government of Côte d’Ivoire that focuses on “Policies and Strategy for the Sustainable Development of the Extractive and Energy Industries”.

“The VP will utilise the event to share Nigeria’s experience in the hydrocarbon exploration and production sectors,” said Nkwocha.

The Vice President is expected to return to Abuja later today (Wednesday).

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