Since her appointment and confirmation in 2020 as the substantive Director General, Pension Commission PENCOM , Hajiya Aishat Dahiru-Umar had turned the once moribund government agency into a prospective organization that was determined to deliver on its mandate in line with the pension act.
This was far away from speculations and cynicisms by negative testaments from individuals, groups, organizations and self arrogated critics whose intentions was to continue to leverage on the leadership gap penultimate, to continue to shortchange hapless pensioners in Nigeria.
Her appointment by Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari after COVID came with alot of reforms that had placed the pensioners, Pension Fund Administrators PFA ‘s, the intermediate bodies between PENCOM and Nigerian pensioners.
Dahiru, away from the analogue way of operation wholistically automated the entire process and systems of the new commission in line with government new order, prevailing situations and the best practices across the world.
The positive development had placed pensioners in a safe stead towards assessing their due and legitimate earnings after a meritorious service to their father land, and also resolve the teething economic downturn arising from post COVID health emergencies that ravaged the world.
With robust automation of it’s activities, the process of assessement and availements in Pension Commission PENCOM was simplified, as the decision had multiplier effects on the PFA’s who often took advantage to play fast on Nigerian pensioners through their Retirement Savings Account RSA.
With renewed vigour and ability to deliver on its mandate, Dahiru had not left any stone unturned towards seamless operation of both Pension Fund Administrators PFA’s as well as pensioners across the country.
The new helms woman brought on board a machinery that had streamlined the activities of both PFA’s, pensioners that had introduced multiple reforms towards ressolving the usual unease that characterized assessment by pensioners.
With the new reforms, transparency and accountability in the management of pensioners funds,(RSA), the geometric progression of pension funds capital had grew from strength to strength in the last two years.
This had occasioned the general idea of using the accumulated collection of pension funds running into trillions in the last two years to fund critical national infrastructure in recent times, along with robust process adopted to ease of assessment of Retirement Savings Account RSA of pension funds by pensioners from Pension Fund Administrators PFA’s.
The positive development is far away from needless distractions orchestrated by fifth columnist who are bent on continuing the ‘Business as usual ‘ in the agency,hence the decision to query the appointment that was carried out on merit by Nigeria’s President, Muhammadu Buhari and ratified by the National Assembly.
it will be uncultured and unheard of to stir up young Nigerians who had constituted themselves as nuisance against the interest of their parents and constituted authorities, padding and peddling unwarranted and unsubstantiated allegations against top government functionaries who had displayed naked integrity in the course of their public service.
All hands must be on deck to continue to support ongoing reforms initiated by Hajiya Aisha Dahiru- Umar to take Nigeria’s pension fund management to greater heights in line with the global best practices.
Written by ABUBAKAR YUSUF and can be reached on yus.abubakar3@gmail.com.