Features
Problems Of Ethics And Journalism In Nigeria
This is the concluding part of the paper presented by Dan Agbese, Editor-In-Chief, Newswatch Magazine at a workshop organised by the Rivers Council of Nigeria Union of Journalists, Port Harcourt, March, 4, 2010. the first series was published on Friday, March 24, 2010.
The first set consists of the facts as they are; the second set consists of doctored or varnished facts that may be strange to the truth but are nevertheless intended to serve vested interests. Political facts are sweeter than real facts.
Take the neglect of the Niger Delta for instance. There are certain basic facts that confirm that this neglect is a fact confirmed by devastated farmlands and the pollution of waters in the area. But have the federal government and the oil companies done anything over the years to remedy the peculiar problems of the area? Once you raise this question, you are instantly bombarded with all sorts of facts because here we are no longer dealing with facts as they are but facts as the parties to the dispute intend them for public consumption. Here is the challenge for the reporters and editors in this region. The challenge for them is to rise above the propaganda and dig diligently for the truth; how much was OMPADEC given and how much did it do? How much has NDDC been given so far and how much has it done to change the face of the region? How much have the state governments in the region received as their shares of the derivation fund and how much have they done with the money? These are verifiable facts. If the truth is known it may help to ease tension and volatility in the region.
Let us look at another aspect of the first item in the code of honour. The freedom of the press to serve the public the truth to which the code says it is entitled is severely restricted by a number of factors. A publishable fact must pass the test of its being in the public interest. Who decides that and on what basis? The editor, of course, does and quite often on grounds of universal convention. All of us guard our private lives. We believe that our privacy must not be invaded because what we do in private lives is nobody’s business. Is the private life of a private individual of public interest? By convention, we tend to leave people alone unless and until they cross the boundary and deny themselves the right to their own privacy.
It is said that a public officer has no private life. This may well be so, but even here public interest draws the line. It is not everything we know about the private life of a public officer that is publishable. Convention imposes on us the obligation to protect the integrity of a public officer under certain circumstances.
Some facts offend the laws of the land. We cannot publish such facts because publishing them is deemed not to be in the public interest. If we do, we pay dearly for our indiscretion. Here I draw your attention to the laws of libel, sedition, pornography, national security and official secrecy.
Another set of facts the press cannot publish concerns those facts whose publication would be injurious to public safety, public morality and national defence. If Nigeria is at war with another country, the movement of its troops would be a fact but the public is not entitled to know that because its publication would compromise national security and put the lives of our troops at risk.
There are even more difficulties that confront the reporter in carrying out his daily duty of serving the public with the truth to which it is entitled. These difficulties or constraints fall into two broad categories – internal and external. Internal constraints refer to a) proprietorial interests, b) personal interests and c) self-censorship.
Brigadier-general Samuel Ogbemudia, former military governor of the old Mid-West Region, once put it quite nicely when he said no government sets up a newspaper to criticise itself. Despite the sometimes high-minded mission statements of proprietors, all of them have vested personal, economic, religious and even ethnic interests in setting up newspapers or radio and television stations. They expect journalists working for them to fully protect those interests at all times and at the same time advance them, even at the expense of their business rivals.
Journalists are human beings. We all have our personal interests and those of our friends to protect and even promote. Those interests do tend to exert some influence in the way we do our job. This is usually evident in self-censorship. We restrain ourselves from publishing facts known to us about issues and event because doing so would compromise our interest or those of our friends.
The external constraints are (a) inducements, (b) pressures from individuals, groups and organisations and (c) laws and administrative decisions. Remember the brown envelope syndrome? Those who invite reporters to press conferences know what they must do – they must induce the reporters with money to publish their stories. Reporters and editors are also induced to kill stories when their publication would affect certain vested interests. The more pernicious aspect of this constraint is found in a situation where editors and reporters are induced or to be more polite about it, persuaded to publish damaging stories about individuals and organisations. Here the public is not served the truth and by the time the truth is known, the damage has been done and someone’s integrity has been called into question.
All of us face pressures from our friends and communities to give the public some varnished truths. Sometimes we are even blackmailed to do this. And truth becomes the casualty.
Legal and administrative constraints are hurdles in the path of the reporter’s efforts to give the public the truth. Governments in Nigeria from the colonial times to the present, have systematically run the ring around the Nigerian press. Prince Tony Momoh has detailed the various laws specifically directed at constraining the press. There have been eighty or so of these laws. Perhaps, the most notorious among them were the Newspapers Act of 1964, decree 11 of 1976 and decree four of 1984. the more dangerous of these constraints during our long winter of military rule were not the laws, draconian as some of them were, but that what was not an offence became an offence at the whims of the military men and journalists were punished for them. A good case in point was the publication by Newswatch magazine in April 1987 of stories that dissected the report of the Samuel Cookey panel on political reforms. The Babangida administration took offence and banned the magazine for six months. The magazine committed no offence because the report was a public document and its publication did not endanger national security in any way. If anything, the magazine sought to promote public discourse on the political future of the country.
I have used one of the eight items in the Code of Honour to show that the enactment of the code of ethics by a professional group does not necessarily pave the way for a more honest public service by its members. The bad news is that these constraints are facts of life. They have been with us since the world began and they will be with us until the world ends. But the good news is that in spite of them, generations of editors and reporters have continued to perform credible service in informing, educating and entertaining the public. These constraints should not, therefore, frighten anyone from doing his duty to journalism and serving the vital information needs of the public.
Let me also point out one fundamental fact about the Code of Honour under discussion. The observance of the code appears to be left at the door of the conscience of individual editors and reporters for two reasons. Firstly, it provides no sanction for infringements. Secondly, it makes no provision for policing the code. This is not the case with doctors, dentists and lawyers. The lack of these pillars of enforcement is a weakness in the Code of Honour. Perhaps, that is one good reason why this generation of editors and reporters hardly know that the code even exists.
The Murtala/Obasanjo military regime tried to police the news media with the promulgation of decree 31 of 1978. The decree established the Nigerian Press Council to foster a) “the achievement and maintenance of the highest professional and commercial standards by the Nigerian press, b) review development likely to restrict the supply through the press of information of public interest and importance and advise measures necessary to prevent or remedy such developments; and c) inquire into complaints about the conduct of the press and exercising in respect of the complaints powers conferred under this decree.”
The decree provides for sanctions in the case of item c) above. The decree, of course, ran into a storm kicked up by journalists who raised objections to some of its provisions. The council was roundly ignored for more than ten years. In the end, what we eventually have is a press council without powers to sanction erring publications.
A further attempt to police the media was made by decree 59 of 1988 that set up the Nigerian Media Council during the Babangida administration. Its functions were similar to those of the Nigerian Press Council but were clearly more extensive. Again journalists raised issues with some provision of the decree. As matters stand, the watch dog has no dog watching over its conduct.
Ethics are important because they prescribe acceptable codes of professional behaviour. But in itself, an ethic code of conduct can of itself do nothing. The responsibility for serving the public rests squarely on individual reporters and their editors. As I see it, the challenge facing us has less to do with our failure to abide by the ethics of the profession. The challenge is to do a good job of informing and educating the Nigeria public. To do this, we must commit ourselves to two fundamental objectives.
Firstly, we must be better informed than the public we seek to serve. An uninformed or a poorly-informed reporter is a dangerous creature let loose on the land. What often passes for exclusive stories are fiction dressed as facts in the press. Perhaps, the desperation imposed on the press by the imperatives for survival in these difficult times has made this inevitable. Still, it is not an excuse. The less we do our job well, the less we impress the public and the more we damage our reputation and integrity as professionals. The barely literate analysis in our newspaper impresses no one. The discerning read it, chuckle and dismiss us of hand.
Secondly, we must sharpen our editorial judgement. Good editorial judgement is a function of both experience and broad-mindedness. The rush to publish has left a lot to be desired in our editorial judgement. We need to hasten slowly because what is published can never be unpublished.
Dan Agbese
The importance of vocational training to the development of any nation cannot be over emphasised. Technical education experts define vocational education as any form of educational program or course that focuses on teaching the specific skills and knowledge required for a particular job or trade. Unlike traditional academic education, which is often broader and theoretical, vocational training is practical, hands-on, and tailored to prepare individuals for specific careers or industries. They also argue that the dearth of trained vocational and middle-level technical manpower represents a very serious gap in the development of third-world countries, including Nigeria. This argument, perhaps, underscores the Federal Government’s bold move towards educational reforms in Nigeria which includes the inculcation of vocational education into the schools curriculum as a way of equipping students with practical skills and enhancing their employability.
A recent statement released by the National Orientation Agency (NOA), indicated that the government has added 15 vocational subjects to the Basic Education curriculum. These additions which take effect from January, 2025, they said, are designed to promote hands-on learning and better prepare students for the job market. The new subjects include: Plumbing, tiling and floor works, POP installation, Event decoration and management, Bakery and Confectionery, Hairstyling, Makeup, Interior Design, GSM Repairs, Satellite/TV Antenna Installation. Others are: CCTV and intercom installation and maintenance, solar installation and maintenance, garment making, agriculture and processing, which covers crop production, beekeeping, horticulture, and livestock farming (e.g., poultry and rabbit rearing) and Basic Digital Literacy, incorporating IT and robotics.
The former Minister of Education, Prof Tahir Mamman, who earlier hinted on the new curriculum for basic schools during a meeting with stakeholders in Abuja, last October, said under the new curriculum, pupils in basic schools will be required to acquire at least two skills. According to the former minister, “The idea is that by the time children finish school, they should have at least two skills. Students should be able to finish school with a minimum of two skills so that they can have a very productive life. “The basis for the curriculum is the National Skills Framework, and it has been approved. It’s a very big project; it affects all schools in Nigeria, public and private.“Whether in the public sector or private sector, all schools are going to implement it. So, this is already determined. It doesn’t require anybody’s consent or any institution can depart from it.
Speaking on implementation, the Mamman said, “We do not expect comprehensive, full implementation from January because, when you roll out something new, there’s a lot of preparation that has to take place by the schools, acquiring new things, equipment, and small things that they will need,” adding that plans were underway to ensure teachers were well-equipped for the new curriculum. He also spoke on the benefits of the curriculum, noting that it would rekindle the desire of parents and students to acquire formal education. Hear him, “Some parents do not want to send their children to school. Right now, part of the problem why schooling has become unattractive is because people finish and there’s no change in their lives. “They cannot be employed. They can’t do anything on their own. So, parents question the value of spending money to send their children to school. “Now it’s going to change that game altogether.
And we have seen how these things resonate with parents. When they are successfully implemented, you will see students will want to run to school every morning. Parents want to take their children to school because they are learning practical things while in school.”The Acting Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Educational Research and Development Council, Dr Margret Lawani, had also disclosed during the same event that the newly introduced subjects fell under the vocational and entrepreneurship studies framework, which has been designed to expose pupils to various trades across multiple sectors. In the views of some vocational training experts, the decision to include vocational education into the basic school curriculum is plausible as it comes at a time when the nation’s education system is facing mounting criticism for its inability to adequately prepare students for real-world challenges.
They opined that by introducing vocational training at an early age, Nigeria has an opportunity to bridge the gap between formal education and practical skill acquisition. They however noted that the success of this initiative hinges on thoughtful implementation and sustained support. “The problem of Nigeria has never been a dearth of ideas or policies on how to move the country forward. In the past some educationists came up with the idea of 6-3-3-4 system of education whereby Students would be taught introductory technology and other forms of vocational skills at the junior secondary school level to better equip them for the real world in future. What happened to that brilliant idea? How many schools have well-equipped laboratories and well-trained teachers to handle these technical and vocational subjects? “The idea of setting up technical schools and polytechnics across the country is for them to serve as a grooming ground for young Nigerians in the area of technology.
How has the government, both federal and states, supported these schools to succeed? So, our problem is lack of implementation, fragmented policies and lack of sustenance not lack of ideas”, posited one expert. He advised that for the new curriculum to bear positive fruits, the government must take time to sensitize heads and owners of schools, teachers, parents and pupils of both public and private schools on the importance of the subjects and assist the schools in acquiring the necessary equipment and tools for the smooth running of the curriculum. “These subjects being introduced cannot be taught only theoretically as we are used to in this country. They require regular practical classes which will cost some money. Government, via the ministries of education, must vote out money for these practical classes and be ready to supervise schools to ensure that they are doing the right thing,” he added
Noting the importance of vocational training in today’s Nigeria where the rate of unemployment is high, Mr. Abel Ikiriko, a basic technology teacher in a Private School at Trans Amadi, Port Harcourt, regretted that vocational training is often seen as a last resort for those who fail academically, leading to low enrolment. He said, “I say this because I am a teacher and I know what we see in school every day. When these vocational subjects are introduced, you will see parents who will go to their children’s schools to make trouble because the children are compelled to learn maybe Hairstyling or something like that. Every parent wants their children to be doctors, lawyers, engineers and other professions and never skilled persons because for our society, skilled jobs are for the dullards.” “One of the most pressing issues in our labor market is the skills gap. Employers often struggle to find workers with the right skills, despite high unemployment rates. Yet many youths are not willing to be trained in a vocation. They prefer to search for the unavailable white-collar jobs. So unfortunate,” he continued.
Ikiriko said that the inclusion of vocational training in primary schools has benefits that extend beyond future job prospects. “Hands-on activities help children develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and creativity—skills that are essential in any field. Vocational subjects can also provide an alternative pathway for students who may not excel in traditional academic subjects, ensuring that no child is left behind in the education system. Moreover, these subjects can instill a sense of dignity in manual labor and shift societal perceptions about the value of skilled trades.”He advocated for public awareness campaigns so as to change perceptions about vocational education, and showcase its potential to lead to successful careers. Mrs. Meg Amadi, a mother of three pupils is concerned about the curriculum of the primary schools being overloaded, stressing that that is a potential risk.
According to her, primary school students are at a formative stage of their development, and overloading them with too many subjects could lead to cognitive fatigue. She maintained that careful planning is required to ensure that the new vocational subjects complement rather than compete with core academic learning; that they are seamlessly integrated into the broader curriculum without overwhelming students. To maximize the impact of this initiative, she offered the following suggestions: the government must invest in training and retraining teachers to deliver vocational subjects effectively, collaborating with vocational training institutes and NGOs for better result; government should begin with pilot programs in select schools to identify best practices and address challenges before scaling up nationwide; the private sector should be engaged to provide funding, equipment, and expertise for vocational training in schools.
Nonetheless, some analysts are of the view that the addition of 15 vocational subjects to the basic school curriculum is a visionary step toward transforming the nation’s education system and improving the nation’s economy. they hold that if implemented effectively, the initiative will equip young Nigerians with the skills needed to thrive in a rapidly changing world while fostering a culture of innovation and self-reliance. They said that with collaborative effort, strategic planning, and unwavering commitment from all stakeholders and the right execution, this bold move could serve as a model for other nations seeking to align education with the demands of the 21st century.
Calista Ezeaku
For three decades or more, there has been a cessation of oil production activities in Ogoni land. But recent meeting of President Bola Tinubu with notable sons and groups may return Ogoni to renewed oil-production once again. Ogonis are weary of perennial neglect. Days after the meeting, President Tinubu gave a nod to the establishment of a University of Environmental Technology in Tai in the Ogoni area. He had earlier-on approved appointments into some federal boards in which some notable Ogonis were among the beneficiaries. The President’s actions and speeches so far have indicated good faith and good intentions. This has urged hard-nosed and irrepressible resistant leaders like Attorney Ledum Mitee, one-time President of the Movement for the Survival of Ogoni People (MOSOP), to be in complete agreement with the return to oil production.
He was heard on the news calling on all well- meaning sons and daughters of Ogoniland to accept the offers coming their way. Many Ogonis however, are still doubtful about the President’s intentions. They have said it is all geared towards the Federal Government having access to the rich oil and gas deposits in Ogoni soil. There is also distrust by some who have yet to heal from past injustices inflicted on the land by previous governments in cahoots with the oil majors. Since 1993 when oil production stopped in Ogoni land following intensive protests from the Ogoni people, the Nigerian government and the oil majors stopped reaping from millions of dollars in proceeds from the oil and gas. Lawson Hayford, a veteran journalist, who has reported the Niger Delta for over four decades, particularly the Niger Delta and the Ogoni crisis, said Nigeria has lost revenue amounting to over N30 trillion for the 32 years that oil has not been mined in Ogoni land.
Writing in the Southern Examiner, Hayford said, “While oil exploration and production in the Niger Delta region began in the late 1950s, operations were suspended in Ogoniland in the early 1990s due to disruptions from local public unrests with oil fields and installations remaining largely dormant for about 34 years, leading to a loss of revenue of over N30 trillion. “There are a total of 96 oil wells connected to five flow stations across the four local government areas of Khana, Gokana, Tai, and Eleme in Ogoniland. They were being operated by the Shell Petroleum Development Company, SPDC of Nigeria, a subsidiary of the Royal Dutch Shell.” That story is presently being rewritten by the remediation efforts of the Hydrocarbon Pollution Remediation Project (HYPREP) and the work of Prof Nenibarini Zabbey, its Project Coordinator.
“Over 50 communities are now enjoying potable water.” As though this was not magic enough, contractors are working hard toward mangrove regeneration not to leave out empowerment programmes for women and people with disabilities. These are stories too good to be true. In addition, the Petroleum Industry Act has also been introduced to take care of some basic needs of the oil communities, especially by tying development of the communities to the operational budgets of the oil companies. The establishment of a host community development trust as a condition for oil mining license holders regarding community development, may well be the magic wand required to turn things around for the Ogonis. A trying present is most likely to give way to a prosperous future. The future of the land and peoples of oil-bearing communities appear brighter with possibilities within this framework.
Environmentalist and lawyer, Iniro Wills, however, strongly thinks that the community-friendly clause in the PIA is only a tiny drop that cannot quench the thirst of the people’s appetite. Only time will tell. A lot of work needs to be done to bring every party in the Ogoni scenario to the table. Some groups are yet to agree with the return of oil production in Ogoniland, while others do not quite agree with the modus operandi adopted to initiate the process. They would all need to be brought together to ventilate their positions so that everyone is taken along together. Last Saturday, the committee that emerged to kickstart a process of the consultations initiated by President Tinubu convened a meeting at Freed Centre, Bori in the heart of Ogoniland. Though it was well attended, proceedings had to be hurried as a group of protesters stormed the venue.
Blessing Wikina, a long time public communications expert from Ogoni however, noted that the Bori meeting was a good landing. He said he was there. He dismissed the slanted reports about the meeting which he said were done to create social media content. He said in his social media handle that the committee deliberately avoided founding the consultations along old ‘loyalty blocs’ and ‘groups of people with entitlement blood.’ “Every Ogoni was to attend as an individual, not as a member of a camp. This approach meant no one would claim success or failure.”
Several factions exist in Ogoniland, including the leading pressure group, MOSOP, and they all need to get involved in the consultations, including those sulking for not being invited to the Abuja parley with the President.
Factional MOSO President, Fegalo Nsuke, recalled how MOSOP championed the Ogoni struggle from the beginning and wondered why MOSOP was not invited to Abuja or the Bori meeting. Hayford said, “sidelining MOSOP in the move to re-enter Ogoniland for oil and gas production could create distrust in the hearts of the Ogoni people, cautioning against rushing the process in order not to generate tension, anxiety and crisis in the landscape of Ogoni area.” Certain that the current process led by President Tinubu would yield good fruit for the Ogoni, Wikina says, he silently prays that “this oil resumption comes sooner, so that our people will participate in productive ventures around our oil economy…..and get benefits like our brothers in Orashi area, Bonny axis, etc.”
He cast a glance at the Bodo-Bonny road that will link mainland Nigeria with the vital island port of Bonny that is passing through Ogoniland. “Shall we wait, watch, as vehicles drive through here, to where lucrative oil businesses are happening…without our involvement? Every party will have to sheathe their sword and embrace the ongoing consultation process that will lead to a prosperous future for the land and the people.
Dagogo Josiah, Olayinka Coker and Emmanuel Obe
Josiah, Coker and Obe wrote in from Port Harcourt.
For decades, Nigeria grappled with a pension crisis that left countless retirees in financial insecurity and despair. The unfunded pension system led to delayed payments and inadequate retirement funds, especially for public sector employees. In response, the federal government, under the leadership of former President Olusegun Obasanjo, enacted the Pension Reform Act of 2004, introducing a contributory pension scheme (CPS) designed to overhaul the system and secure a dignified retirement for Nigerian workers.
According to the Pension Reform Act, 2004, Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) is an arrangement where both the employer and the employee contribute portions of an employee’s monthly emolument towards the payment of the employee’s pension at retirement. The CPS covers employees in the public service of the Federation, Federal Capital Territory, States, Local Governments and private sector organisations with three or more employees.
Only Judicial Officers, members of the Armed Forces, the Intelligence and Secret Services of the Federation; retirees under any pension scheme existing before 30 June 2004; and employees who had three or less years to retire as at June 30, 2004 were exempted from the scheme.
The objectives of the CPS according to Section 2 of the Pension Reform Act, 2004, are to ensure that every retiree of the Nigerian Public Service receives his/her retirement entitlements as and when due; assist an improvident person to save against old age; and ensure a uniform set of rules and regulations on issues relating to the administration and payment of pension to retirees.
According to Section 85 of the Pension Reform Act, 2014, which effectively repealed the 2004 Act, “All contributions made under this Act shall be invested by the Pension Fund Administrators with objectives of safety and maintenance of fair returns on amount invested”.
Analysts and some retirees have questioned the usefulness of this section of the Act when the retirees are kept in the dark about the investments made with their contributions and hardly reap the dividend of the investment. A group of retirees known as Contributory Pensions Retirees Forum, recently described the CPS as a “modern day slavery; an instrument of economic annihilation of workers to death in abject poverty after retirement.”
According to them, the CPS denies retirees of a lump sum of their money after retirement and dispenses a paltry monthly pension to retirees across the board. They narrated the case of a retiree who served the Federal Government from July 15, 1981 and retired on July 15, 2016 on salary grade Level 14, having worked for a mandatory period of 35 years and attained the maximum age of 60 years.
For all the years he put in, the total balance standing to his credit was N6,745,823.34. Out of this, he was paid 25 per cent which amounted to N1,686,455.84 while the balance of 75 per cent was retained by Pension Fund Administrator (PFA) for investment in the capital market and other large institutions. The retiree has been receiving a paltry sum of N26,703.15 monthly since 2016 till date despite the huge profits declared every year from the investment.
“Unfortunately, the sad part of this is that every day prices of goods and services are on the increase. While workers and retirees under the old scheme – Defined Benefit Scheme had their salaries and pension increased across all levels, we in the CPS are abandoned to our fate. We do not get increase”, lamented a retiree.
A public affairs analyst, Bonny Harrison, described such treatment of the retirees, who spend their active years serving the country as unfair and inconsiderate, noting that such attitude will discourage the people still in service from putting in their best. “They may be lured into bribery and corruption, knowing that the country will not cater for them when they retire”, he opined.
Section 7, Sub Section 1, Paragraph (a) of the Pension Reform Act, 2014 provides that unlike the former Defined Benefit Scheme, the CPS is to be jointly funded by both the employer and the employee. Each worker has an individual Retirement Savings Account (RSA) with a Pension Fund Administrator (PFA).
It also made provision for state governments to migrate to the CPS and stipulates that employees contribute eight per cent of their monthly earnings, and employers add 10 per cent, totalling 18 per cent of the employee’s monthly income. The funds are managed under the oversight of the National Pension Commission (PenCom), with the aim of ensuring transparency and accountability.
Two decades down the road, getting the state governments to key into the scheme has been a Herculean task. Reports show that only about five out of the 36 states in the country have fully complied with the CPS Act. Some have not even enacted their CPS laws while some enacted the law without contributing anything to their workers’ RSA. PenCom and Pension fund operators have reportedly made frantic efforts to have them key into the scheme since 2014 but that yielded little or no results.
A recently retired civil servant in Rivers State narrated that the past governments in the states did not key in fully into the scheme. While the eight per cent of the employees’ salary was deducted, the government failed to contribute its own 10 per cent, thereby making retirees from the state ineligible to benefit from the CPS scheme.
The retiree was however glad that the total amount he contributed over the years was paid to him without any deduction and that the State government has put keying into the CPS on hold. He advised that the state government should not be part of the CPS as it is confusing and not favourable to government workers. “Contributory Pensions Scheme cannot work in our states where the governors run the states like their personal businesses. A governor today may decide to contribute and another governor tomorrow may choose not to. What happens to the retirees in such a situation? He queried.
Low compliance in the informal sector has also been noted as one of the challenges of the scheme. The informal sector, which represents over 80 per cent of Nigeria’s workforce, often lacks the structure or financial stability to commit to monthly contributions. Many informal workers are unaware of the benefits of joining the scheme, highlighting a gap in outreach and education.
Analysts have also observed that fluctuations, especially inflation, often erode the value of retirement savings. Although PFAs invest in various assets, ensuring inflation-adjusted returns remains challenging, impacting retirees’ purchasing power, they said.
They therefore, canvassed for a halt of the CPS or reforms and initiatives to make it effective and worth the while. These include:
Expansion of CPS outreach programmes and incentives, such as flexible contribution options to increase informal sector enrollment; improved awareness and education which will drive greater participation among self-employed and informal workers; increasing transparency in fund management and imposing stricter penalties for misconduct so as to improve public confidence; introducing innovative investment options like green bonds and infrastructure development projects to help pension funds achieve better returns.
Others are: a more aggressive investment strategy that offers inflation-protected returns, benefiting retirees in the long term by PenCom in order to mitigate inflation’s effects, and PenCom offering financial education to pensioners so as to help them manage their funds effectively. PenCom should offer financial planning resources, ensuring that retirees fully understand the structure and benefits of the CPS.
Analysts have also argued that for CPS to succeed and live up to its objective of being a cornerstone of economic stability and prosperity, embodying the hope of dignified and secured retirement for all, PenCom must wake up to her duty of ensuring that the retirees are not short-changed by the pension administrators and that non-complaint employers (that fail to make deductions) as stipulated in PRA 2014 are duly punished.
Calista Ezeaku