I just finished reading Premium Times piece on the illegal take over of the First Guarrantee Pension fund for the past five years alongside details of extreme injustice perpetrated by the management of the National Pension Commission.It is a reprehensible case of gross abuse of regulatory powers to serve selfish family interest.
What is most annoying is the arrogant mien and display of the PENCOM Director General on this and other issues.Read what Premium Times :
“Mrs. Anohu-Amazu turned down repeated requests for interview over months. She did not also respond to questions sent to her office through PENCOM’s spokesperson. She also declined responding to letters, telephone calls and text messages from PREMIUM TIMES for this report”
Prior to this Saturday investigative piece,several news organisations have published series of stories about a civil society group in Lagos which levelled serious allegations of mismanagement against the PENCOM boss.Up till now,she has refused to clarify and respond despite the seriousness of the allegations.
Of course,she was inherited from the former administration and her conduct manifested impunity prevalent in those dark era. She probably believes the Presidency can be cajoled ,controlled and manipulated like the days of Goodluck Jonathan. She lobby top administration officials ,believing as usual that she must have her ways.
Why cannot some public officials wake up and accept that Nigeria is no longer business as usual?Why should any top official think he or she can survive by shady style and by covering up grave matters of national importance ? How can an official managing almost seven trillion naira pension fund believe she can ignore public inquiries ? This is the height of impunity.
In Nigeria of today where judges and top lawyers are been busted ,where top figures are having their days in court,how long can impunity,arrogance,abuse of power and mismanagement in PENCOM be covered up? In a government in which change begins with each and every one of us,how can an official stick to the old order ,trampling on investors’ rights and promoting family businesses as alleged in the Premium Times publication?
Most Nigerians cannot believe that pension management is still shrouded in mystery. Those running the sector believe they are above the law and even the President. The transparency mantra of Buhari does not apply to them as long as they can manipulate key officials.We are the untouchables ,they probably falsely think.
But they should wake up from their slumber and accept that many sacred cows are having their days in courts Even those tagged powerful in the present government are been busted. If the cabal in the oil sector can be disbanded and exposed ,it is just a matter of time before those within the pension sector will face the law.
The PENCOM boss has demonstrated aversion for due process and a condemnable disregard for lawfully served court orders. She has apply regulatory powers with bias and abuse . Under her watch ,injustice has been meted unto investors whose crime was growing their business.
After five years of taken over First Gurantee Pension fund, the DG is not ready to return it to lawful owners and a lot of schemes are allegedly been perfected to deny them eventual ownership despite court orders.A report said a Borno politician is promising the DG a cover.
But what manner of cover will prevent justice from been served ,impunity from been stopped and court orders from been obeyed ?
It is high time President Muhammadu Buhari step into the situation in PENCOM.Anti-graft war should reach the commission without further delay.The DG cannot and should not be above the law.
*Ismaili sent this opinion piece from Suleja,Niger state.
