Labour call for solutions to pension challenge.

The Kaduna State Chapter of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) have urged the government to address problems associated with contributory pension scheme.

They advised that for a successful implementation of the government's reform plan, a strong committee, including stakeholders, should be constituted with a mandate and objectives.

This was contained in a statement by the state's NLC Chairman, Comrade Adamu Ango.

The statement said the implementation of the reform by the Kaduna State Government should be done in phases to address issues that might arise during the execution of the reforms.

The statement read: "The government should as a matter of priority, settle all outstanding arrears of salaries and entitlements of retirees before embarking on the reform.

"Without prejudice to the existing norms, we wish to advise that ageing in the service should be by the provision as contained in the statute books, i.e. 35 years in service and /or 60 years of age and that should be maintained for uniformity with the civil service of the federation.

"All problems associated with the contributory pension scheme should be addressed e.g. accrual valuation, reconciliation of remittance of employee/employer and the Group Life Insurance etc.''

The unions recommended that officers that had reached or soon to reach the retirement age/years of service be allowed to voluntarily exit the service, while the government should make their entitlements ready for collection within the mandatory three months of notice to achieve a win-win situation.