The Presidential Task Team on Pension Reform has been inundated with series of complaints from some pensioners that fraudsters have been sending text messages to their phones apparently demanding the payment of some money in the name of helping and assisting them (pensioners) to process their complaints.
The Task Team has never instructed any person or organization to demand or collect money from any pensioner on its behalf. In view of that the Task Team wishes to condemn this act and also warn unsuspecting pensioners to be on alert of such crooks.
Hence, pensioners and the general public are hereby requested to note that all pension matters at the Office of the Pension Reform Task Team are treated and attended to at NO COST. Processing of pensioners’ entitlements no longer requires time to process as the new E-Pension Management System (E-PMS) does not allow for much human contact in processing such claims.
All pensioners are hereby warned not to pay anything to anyone. The Task Team enjoins pensioners to immediately report cases of extortion or bribery demand to the nearest Police post, ICPC, EFCC or SSS offices.
It is equally important to note that the Task Team has put in place an ICT application that makes the pension system open and provides mechanisms against corruption. Thus, the current system provides both internal and external control systems that enhance transparency, accountability and instant detection of fraud in the pension administration.
With sheer determination and patriotism, the Task Team cracked down on the fraudulent pension cartel cut across the Country and got to the root of the pension scam. The Task Team would remain unflinching in honestly safeguarding the pensioners’ hard earned entitlements and their funds.
Hassan Salihu
INFORMATION & MEDIA RELATIONS OFFICER
14th August, 2012
