Date: 2016-08-22

The Nigeria Labour Congress(NLC), Kwara state chapter, at the weekend advised the state government against the purported plan to commence the implementation of the pension contributory scheme for all the categories of workers in the state.

It said the state is not yet ripe for the scheme in view of the perceived financial predicament and economic situation affecting states of the counry.

The former president, Dr. Goodluck Jonathan, on July 1, 2014 signed into law a new Pension Reform Act 2014, which repealed the Pension Reform Act of 2004.

The objectives of the reform are to ensure that contributors receive their benefits as and when due and to assist poor individuals to save in order to cater for the livelihood after retirement and during their old age respectively.

However, the state chapter of NLC, in a statement issued over the weekend and signed by the state chairman, Comrade Yekeen Agunbiade, said that many states of the federation that had implemented the scheme had suspended it due to non-availability of funds.

According to the statement, "The current dwindling finances that had greeted some states of the federation would not assist the state government to achieve the maximum result on the implementation of the scheme in view of non -payment of salaries to workers as at when due across the country".