UNICAL VC lauds NPC for opting to sensitize staff on PENCOM matters

The Vice Chancellor of the University of Calabar, Prof Florence Obi has commended the National Pension Commission (NPC) South South Zonal office for taking a bold step in tackling issues bothering the university community on PENCOM matters, Myschoolnews report.

Prof. Obi gave the commendation at the Council Chamber when members of the National Pension Commission NPC South South Zonal office paid a familiarization visit to her recently.

She said Pension issues bothering staff in the University are enormous and should be given the attention it deserves adding that PENCOM should think of proactive ways of educating staff in the University because most retirees die even without accessing their money.

This is even as she said, there are cases where staff in the University complain of their payslip showing money deducted from their accounts but there are indications of none remittance to the contributor’s account amongst others as many of such accounts still read zero.

According to her, "many staff who are due for retirement are yet to see evidence of their contributors deduction and with some who have retired from active service not been paid their gratuity."

To this end, she urged the management of PenCom to think of more ways of educating staff such that when a staff  retires, he/she will be able to have smooth access to her Pension savings and not when he dies. 

While describing the situation as worrisome, she said there is need for one or two days training on life after retirement adding that the planned interaction by PENCOM with University staff should be deliberate and intentional in purpose especially as it affects both the old and the new staff in the system.

The Varsity Administrator who welcomed the NPC team to her office appreciated them for deeming it fit to interact with the University community adding that the planned interaction session with Staff of the University will give answers to some silent worrisome issues.

“It is quite commendable that you are here to interact and sensitize staff more on the number of issues which most of us are not aware of”.

“There's really a lot of issues that the contributors are unaware of and I think it’s a very good move on your part to interact with the system, “ she added.

Earlier in his remarks, the leader of the team and the Zonal Head South South NPC Mr. Michael Eneh appreciated the Vice Chancellor for granting them audience.

Mr Eneh stated that the essence of the familiarization visit was to seek an audience with the Vice Chancellor to hold an interactive session with the university community on PENCOM challenges being faced by  both retirees and those in active service.

He further stated that even though some staff don’t take pension matters seriously, pension matters are paramount and very crucial to every civil servant of the Federation .

Mr Eneh noted that the scheme have  had complaints and reports from both staff of this great Institution and decided to take care of such even as he said that such complaints were due to knowledge gaps from the NPC.

Accordingly, he stressed that there are other developments which if not tackled to the advantages of those concerned, the benefits will elude them.

“ We strive to see that an institution provides for itself a profitable and wealthy exit handshake when exiting which will benefit all“.

This is even as he reiterated that the scheme will make sure the Institution has a sound data system, adding that without  data, the operation of the system will be affected in the nearest future and this will eventually affect all the benefits that may accrue to the retirees.

Speaking also, the Head of Pension Unit, University of Calabar, Barr. Chris Ekpang described Pension matters as paramount to both public and civil servants adding that no one was excluded, maintaining that pension matters is to every University staff as death is to every living being on Earth “.

Barr. Chris stated that about 95 percent of what the staff ought to know about pension processes has not come to the public notice even as he said that the problems embedded in the pension processes affect almost everyone including himself

He therefore encouraged staff of the University to visit the pension unit so that they can be comprehensively sensitized about the pension process.