Urgent Appeal to Halt Board Constitution and Reject NUPCPS’s Illegitimate Representation of CPS Retirees
Honorable Director-General,
We, the undersigned retirees of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), write with grave concern over PENCOM’s imminent constitution of its Governing Board. We urgently appeal to you not to railroad this process by accommodating the Nigeria Union of Pensioners Contributory Pension Scheme Sector (NUPCPS);a body that lacks our mandate, confidence, and legitimacy.
I. Why NUPCPS Does Not Represent Us
- Coercive Membership Drive:
NUPCPS is conducting a deceptive nationwide “biometric verification” (20–23 January 2025), falsely linking it to pension enhancements. In reality, it is a forced union enrollment campaign. Retirees are pressured to sign membership forms under the guise of “financial freedom,” exploiting their desperation for unpaid arrears. - Documented Ineffectiveness:
Despite NUPCPS Chairman Sylva Nwaiwu’s public demands, 84.7% of retiree complaints to PENCOM remained unresolved in Q1 2023. The union has neither consulted us nor addressed systemic failures like:
- 20+ months of unpaid accrued rights despite budget allocations.
- Exclusion from pension increments (e.g., Lagos State’s denial of CPS retirees).
- Mismanagement of RSA transfers, annuity approvals, and remittance complaints.
- Legal Violations:
NUPCPS’s tactics violate Section 4(4)(a) of the Pension Reform Act 2014, which guarantees retirees’ autonomy. PENCOM’s collaboration with them risks endorsing an entity operating without statutory consent.
II. Systemic Injustices Require Your Immediate Intervention
- Withheld Funds: The Office of the Accountant-General (OAGF) retains **N758 billion in approved bonds meant to clear liabilities, worsening retirees’ hardship.
- Inequitable Treatment: CPS retirees are denied pension increments granted to Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS) pensioners—a blatant discrimination.
- Accountability Failures: PENCOM resolved only 9 of 59 non-remittance complaints** in Q1 2023.
III. Our Demands
We urge PENCOM to:
- Suspend Board Constitution until credible CPS retiree representatives (elected by retirees, not NUPCPS) are included.
- Terminate NUPCPS Collaboration: Halt joint data exercises; use PENCOM’s digital platforms for verification.
- Release Accrued Rights: Expedite payment of 20+ months’ arrears with transparent timelines.
- Equalize Pension Benefits: Implement the approved N32,000 monthly increment for CPS retirees.
- Establish Direct Engagement: Create state-level CPS retiree committees to bypass NUPCPS.
IV. A Plea for Integrity
Honorable Director-General, we are **not members of NUPCPS. We reject their exploitation of PENCOM’s authority to legitimize coercion. Do not let pensioners be railroaded by a union that has failed us. Our survival hinges on:
- Your commitment to impartial governance,
- Direct dialogue with beneficiaries,
- Urgent resolution of the injustices outlined.
We await your decisive action.
Respectfully Yours,
Damilola Omosebi
Concerned Retirees of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) PHCN
