Governor of Ebonyi State, Engr. David Nweze Umahi, has said that it is not compulsory for all Ebonyi workers to participate in the state’s new pension scheme.

He announced this during a meeting with the Nigeria Labour Congress and its affiliate bodies over the controversy surrounding the new pension law at the Government House, Abakaliki on Wednesday.

Umahi, who said that any civil servant willing to opt out should indicate so in writing, added that once done, the person’s name would be expunged outrightly.

“Any worker that doesn’t want to participate in this scheme should in writing, not collectively, state that ‘I don’t want to participate in this pension scheme law.’ Such person will be excluded from the programme,” the governor said in a statement on Saturday by his Chief Press Secretary, Emma Anya.

Umahi, who reiterated his commitment to the welfare of workers , said his administration could currently afford 5% contribution to the scheme.
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He reminded workers that the Nigerian constitution provides in the concurrent list, for each state to make the law to suit its financial capacity.

He flayed the NLC Chairman in the state, Ikechukwu Nwafor, for threatening to call a one-million-man match to protest alleged pension scheme deductions from workers salaries.

According to Umahi, the planned protest would not be allowed by the government.

He said, “We hear that Nwafor is planning to organise a one-million –man march against the government over the pension deductions but I know that not up that number voted during the last elections.

“We will, however, organize a three-million march if he goes on with his plan. We will not fold our hands and allow anybody or group destroy the government.

“Nwafor should join a political party if he wishes and let us know, as I have tolerated him and his activities enough and would no longer do
so.

more at http://www.akelicious.com/2017/02/pension-scheme-not-compulsory-for-all.html