WE HAVE been exposing state governments’ status of implementation of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) in alphabetical order. Today we will be exposing the status of implementations of the last four states namely Sokoto, Taraba, Yobe and Zamfara states.
Sokoto State
The state enacted the Sokoto State Pension Reform Law in 2007. Unfortunately, it stopped at that stage. Therefore, the state is yet to implement any other milestone towards full implementation of the CPS including the following:
- Yet to establish a Pension Bureau to oversee the process of implementation of the CPS;
- Yet to commence the registration of its employees with Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs);
- Yet to commence the remittance of pension contributions;
- Yet to conduct an Actuarial Valuation to determine the Accrued Pension Rights of employees that would be transiting into CPS;
- Yet to open Retirement Benefits Bond Redemption Fund Account;
- Yet to commence funding of Accrued Rights; and
- Yet to institute a Group Life Insurance Policy.
RELATED ARTICLE: Exposing State Governments’ Status of Implementation of CPS For Their Employees Part 12; By Ivor Takor
Nineteen years into pension reforms in Nigeria and the introduction of the CPS under the Pension Reform Act 2004, which repealed Pension Act 1990 that was of universal application in the Federal and States public services, Sokoto state government enacted a law on the CPS in 2007 and stopped at that level.
The following persons have ruled Sokoto state from the introduction of the CPS in 2004 to 29th May, 2023.
- Attahiru Bafarawa from 29 May, 1999 – 29 May, 2007.
- Aliyu Wamakko from 29 May, 2007 – 11 April, 2008.
- Abdullahi Salame (Acting) from 11 April, 2008 – 28 May, 2008.
- Aliyu Wamakko from 28 May, 2008 – 28 May, 2015.
- Aminu Tambuwal from 28 May, 2015 – 29 May, 2023.
- Ahmad Aliyu from 29 May, 2023 – date.
The state has a life pension law in favour of former Governors and former deputy Governors, which guarantees that these former political office holders of the state maintain lives of luxury through generous pension and other benefits.
Taraba State
The state enacted the Taraba State Pension Reform Law in 2009. Unfortunately, it stopped at that stage. Therefore, the state is yet to implement any other milestone towards full implementation of the CPS including the following:
- Yet to establish a Pension Bureau to oversee the process of implementation of the CPS;
- Yet to commence the registration of its employees with Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs);
- Yet to commence the remittance of pension contributions;
- Yet to conduct an Actuarial Valuation to determine the Accrued Pension Rights of employees that would be transiting into CPS;
- Yet to open Retirement Benefits Bond Redemption Fund Account;
- Yet to commence funding of Accrued Rights; and
- Yet to institute a Group Life Insurance Policy.
Nineteen years into pension reforms in Nigeria and the introduction of the CPS under the Pension Reform Act 2004, which repealed Pension Act 1990 that was of universal application in the Federal and States public services, Taraba state government enacted a law on the CPS in 2009 and stopped at that level.
RELATED ARTICLE: Exposing State Governments’ Status of Implementation of CPS For Their Employees Part 11; By Ivor Takor
The following persons have ruled Taraba state from the introduction of the CPS in 2004 to 29th May, 2023.
- Jolly Nyame from 29 May, 1999 – 29 May, 2007.
- Da Baba Suntai from 29 May, 2007 – October, 2012.
- Garba Umar (Acting) from October, 2012 – 2013.
- Abubakar Danladi (Acting) from 2013 – 29 May, 2023.
- Agbab Kefas from 29 May, 2023 – date.
Yobe State
The state drafted the Yobe State Pension Reform Law in 2020. Unfortunately, it stopped at that stage. Therefore, the state is yet to implement any other milestone towards full implementation of the CPS including the following:
- Yet to establish a Pension Bureau to oversee the process of implementation of the CPS;
- Yet to commence the registration of its employees with Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs);
- Yet to commence the remittance of pension contributions;
- Yet to conduct an Actuarial Valuation to determine the Accrued Pension Rights of employees that would be transiting into CPS;
- Yet to open Retirement Benefits Bond Redemption Fund Account;
- Yet to commence funding of Accrued Rights; and
- Yet to institute a Group Life Insurance Policy.
Nineteen years into pension reforms in Nigeria and the introduction of the CPS under the Pension Reform Act 2004, which repealed Pension Act 1990 that was of universal application in the Federal and States public services, Yobe state government is still at the Draft Bill level.
RELATED ARTICLE: Non-Compliance With Pension Reform Act By Employers; By Ivor Takor
The following persons have ruled Yobe state from the introduction of the CPS in 2004 to 29th May, 2023.
- Abubakar Ibrahim from 29 May, 1999 – 29 May, 2007.
- Mamman Bello Ali from 29 May, 2007 – 26 January, 2009.
- Ibrahim Gaidam from 27 January, 2009 – 29 May, 2019.
- Mai Mala Buni from 29 May, 2019 – date.
The state has a life pension law in favour of former governors and former deputy governors, which guarantees that these former political office holders of the state maintain lives of luxury through generous pension and other benefits.
Zamfara State
The state enacted the Zamfara State Pension Reform Law in 2006. Repealed the CPS law and re-enacted a law on Contributory Defined Benefits Scheme (CDBS) in 2019. It refunded employees contributions made under the CPS.
The state is yet to implement any other milestone towards implementation of the CDBS including the following:
- Yet to establish a Pension Bureau to oversee the process of implementation of the CDBS;
- Yet to Commence deductions and remittance of pension contributions;
- Yet to conduct actuarial valuation to determine the quantum of its liability and funding gaps.
CDBS doesn’t require the registration of employees and opening of Retirement Savings Accounts with Pension Fund Administrators. Institution of a Group Life Insurance Policy is not required under CDBS.
Nineteen years into pension reforms in Nigeria and the introduction of the CPS under the Pension Reform Act 2004, which repealed Pension Act 1990 that was of universal application in the Federal and States public services, Zamfara state government has only enacted a law on CDBS and stopped at that level.
The following persons have ruled Zamfara state from the introduction of the CPS in 2004 to 29th May, 2023.
- Ahmad Sani Yarima from 29 May, 1999 – 29 May, 2007.
- Mahmud Shinkafi from 29 May, 2007 – 29 May, 2011.
- Abdul’aziz Abubakar Yari from 29 May, 2011 – 29 May, 2019.
- Bello Matawalle from 29 May, 2019 – 29 May, 2023.
- Dauda Lawal 29 May, 2023 – Incumbent.
The state has a life pension law in favour of former governors and former deputy governors, which guarantees that these former political office holders of the state maintain lives of luxury through generous pension and other benefits.
Section 210(1) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 as amended, provides that “Subject to the provisions of subsection (2) of this section, the right of a person in the public service of a state to receive pension or gratuity shall be regulated by law.
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Subsection (2) provides that “Any benefit to which a person is entitled in accordance with or under such law as is referred to in subsection (1) of this section shall not be withheld or altered to his disadvantage except as is permissible under any law, including the code of conduct.”
Subsection (3) provides that “Pension shall be reviewed every five years or together with any State Civil Service salary reviews, whichever is earlier.”
Key pension information were sourced from PenCom website.
