Wadata Media and Advocacy Centre, WAMAC, a Non Governmental Organization, NGO has identified disconnection between government and the public as a source of mistrust and lack of accountability in the administration on pensions to retirees in Enugu state.
WAMAC stated this in a communique signed by Zubair Abdurauf Idris, Executive Director/Project Manager of the NGO, issued at the end of a Town Hall meeting with a theme: Accountability Issues in the payment of Local Government Pensioners in Enugu state, held on Saturday in Enugu.
In the communique, WAMAC, said noted that the greatest challenges of pension administration which leads to transactional corruption at all levels due to lack of openness and accountability tracking processes.
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The Town Hall Meeting, supported by MC Arthur Foundation, identified challenges encountered by pensioners in other parastatals, urging the local government Chairmen to immediately start remittance to Local government pension board for prompt payment of pensioners and arrears.
“Participants advocate for continued enforcement of anti-corruption agencies, EFCC and ICPC mandates on preventive measures and enforcement to fight the menace.
“The meeting commended the Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) for their efforts and advocacy in the fight against corruption and urged governments to pay entitlements of pensioners as at when due.
“Participants frowned at social crimes and electronic crimes such as Cyber-crimes, trafficking of persons and other new faces of social corruption that are retrogressive to development.
” Also, participants call for social inclusion for PWDs and implementation of gender equality and social inclusion (GESI)
Participants commended the Enugu state governments for setting up a committee of pension administration stakeholders and labour leaders to review the Pension Scheme in Enugu State with a view to adopt the Contributory Pension Scheme.
“The Town Hall meeting commended DREAM FM Radio, Enugu, and other media organisations; Wadata Media and Advocacy Centre (WAMAC) and McArthur Foundation for their efforts in the fight against corruption,” the communique said.
In the communique, the participants called for active participation of stakeholders towards ensuring prompt payment of pensioner entitlements and arrears and commend the Enugu state governments for restoring hope of local government pensioners by the new administration.
