Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) says the restoration of gratuity payment in the public service is the solution to the problems being faced by retirees across the country.

The Union made its position known during a public hearing on 2 bills to amend the Pension Reform Act organised by the House of Representatives committee on pension.

The bills; Pension Reform Act, providing that a pensioner shall receive at least 75% of his retirement benefits immediately upon retirement and criminalise the undue delay in the payment of pension.

The other bill is for an act to amend the Pension Reform Act 2014 to provide for exemption of the Nigerian Police Force from the contributory pension scheme and related matters.

Representative of the NLC, Comrade Uche Ekwe, argued that exempting some agencies from the pension scheme would be unfair to those agencies that would remain under it.

According to Comrade Ekwe, the restoration of gratuity payment in public service is the only solution to the problems bedeviling the payment of pension to retirees in Nigeria.

Deputy Inspector General of Police in charge of administration, DIG Sanusi Lemu representing the Inspector General of Police, stated that having an improved pension scheme for the police remained a mirage in view of challenges experienced by retired personnel.

This according to him, in addition to the negative impact on the morale of it’s personal necessitates the need for the exit of the police from the contributory pension scheme.

Meanwhile, Director-General, Nigeria Pension Commission, A’isha Dahiru disagreed with the stakeholders over removal of the Nigeria Police Force from the contributory Pension Scheme, noting that the poor pension being received was as a result of a poor salary scheme.

Speaker, House of Representative Femi Gbajabiamila, represented by the deputy leader of the house, Peter Akpatason observed that the bills will effect a critical intervention of the legislative arm to better the lives of retirees.

The Chairman, house committee on pension, Kabiru Alhassan, explained that the inputs of the stakeholders will guide the lawmakers in improving the living conditions of senior citizens in Nigeria.