PenCom to recover N1.3bn unpaid pension contributions owed journalists

 

The Director-General (DG) of the National Pension Commission (PenCom), Omolola Oloworaran, has said newspaper organisations in Nigeria owe retired journalists over N1.3 billion in unpaid pension contributions.

Oloworaran made this disclosure when she led a PenCom delegation on a visit to the Nigerian Press Council (NPC), on Tuesday.

A statement by the PenCom management on Wednesday said Oloworaran expressed concerns about the widespread non-compliance with the Pension Reform Act 2014 (PRA 2014) by media establishments.

She said PenCom and the NPC have entered into a strategic collaboration aimed at urging newspaper organisations to address their substantial pension liabilities.

“The PRA 2014 mandates that employers remit monthly pension contributions into employees’ Retirement Savings Accounts (RSAs) no later than seven days after salary payments,” she said.

The PenCom DG, however, noted that several media houses have failed to meet the requirement, prompting the commission to engage recovery agents to audit and determine the extent of their outstanding pension debts and any applicable penalties.

Oloworaran emphasised that journalists, who play a crucial role in promoting accountability in both public and private sectors, deserve to retire with dignity.

She said media organisations must lead by example by fulfilling their pension obligations to employees.

The DG appealed to NPC to support advocacy efforts within the media sector, stressing that pension contributions are a critical safeguard against poverty in old age.

“Pension is a vital component of our social security system, and even the government has begun to take it more seriously,” Oloworaran said.

Responding, Dili Ezughah, executive secretary of the NPC, pledged the council’s full support and commitment to rallying key stakeholders, including the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) and the Nigerian Guild of Editors (NGE), to address the issue comprehensively.

Nigerian jailed 97 months in US for defrauding 400 elderly people over $6m inheritance

 

A 36-year-old Nigerian national, Okezie Ogbata, has been jailed for 97 months in the United States (US) for his role in a $6 million transnational inheritance fraud scheme.

The US Department of Justice (DOJ) disclosed this in a statement released on Tuesday.

Ogbata was found to be a member of a group of fraudsters that sent personalised letters to elderly people across the US for several years.

The scheme defrauded over 400 individuals, mostly elderly or vulnerable people, resulting in losses of more than $6 million.

The letters falsely claimed that the sender was a representative of a bank in Spain and that the recipient was entitled to receive a multimillion-dollar inheritance left for the recipient by a family member who had died overseas years before.

Ogbata pleaded guilty to the charges and admitted to defrauding more than 400 victims of over over $6 million.

According to court documents, Ogbata and his co-conspirators deceived victims by insisting that, before receiving their supposed inheritance, they were required to pay various fees, such as delivery charges, taxes, and other costs, to avoid government scrutiny.

Ogbata and his co-conspirators collected money sent in response to the fraudulent letters through a complex web of US-based former victims, whom the defendants convinced to receive and forward funds to them or their associates.

“Victims who sent money never received any purported inheritance funds,” the statement read.

The acting Assistant Attorney General of the Justice Department’s Civil Division, Yaakov Roth, described the case as a testament to the critical role of international collaboration in tackling transnational crime.

“I want to thank our U.S. law enforcement partners, as well as those who assisted across the globe, including the Portuguese Judicial Police and Public Prosecution Service of Portugal, for their outstanding contributions to this case,” Roth said.

Also, the US Attorney for the Southern District of Florida, Hayden Byrne, emphasised the determination of American authorities to pursue fraudsters globally.

“The long arm of the American justice system has no limits when it comes to reaching fraudsters who prey on our nation’s most vulnerable populations, including the elderly.

“We will not allow transnational criminals to steal money from the public we serve,” Byrne said.

Acting Postal Inspector in charge of the US Postal Inspection Service, Miami Division, Steven Hodges, said: “The USPIS has a long history of protecting American citizens from these types of schemes and bringing those responsible to justice.

“Today’s sentencing is a testament to the dedicated partnership between the Department of Justice’s Consumer Protection Branch, HSI, and USPIS.”

Special Agent in charge of Homeland Security Investigations in Arizona, Francisco Burrola, condemned the exploitation of the elderly.

“It’s inconceivable to imagine any human being robbing from those who’ve spent a lifetime working and building a life and then are duped out of it all. Together, with our law enforcement partners, we will not tolerate this kind of behaviour; we will bring justice to those who have wronged and stolen from so many people,” he said.

Ogbata’s sentencing comes just days after the Federal Bureau of Investigation announced the arrest of 22 Nigerian nationals in connection with a series of sextortion schemes.

FG declares Thursday public holiday

 

The Federal Government has declared Thursday a public holiday to mark 2025 Workers’ Day, celebrated annually on May 1.

Minister of Interior, Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo, announced the holiday in a statement on Tuesday.

Tunji-Ojo commended Nigerian workers for their diligence and sacrifice, recognising their efforts as contributors to the country’s internal and external growth.

He reiterated the need for peace to drive industrialisation and economic growth and urged workers to imbibe the culture of innovation and productivity.

“There is dignity in labour; the dedication and commitment to the work we do is vital to nation-building.

“This administration is fully committed to the security of life and property of every citizen and foreigner in the country.

“While wishing workers a happy celebration, the Honourable Minister urged Nigerians to keep hope alive as the present administration of President Bola Tinubu is committed to the Renewed Hope Agenda he has promised,” the statement read.

The minister also encouraged workers to raise the bar of their trade, noting that it would improve governance and enable citizens to derive maximum benefit from the nation’s wealth and resources.

‘I bear no grudge’- Atiku breaks silence on Okowa’s defection

 

Former Vice President Atiku Abubakar has said he is not bothered by the defection of his running mate in the 2023 presidential election, Ifeanyi Okowa, to the All Progressives Congress (APC).

In a statement released on Tuesday by his media aide, Paul Ibe, Abubakar said it is undemocratic to begrudge anyone for choosing where to belong politically.

“Former vice-president, Alhaji Atiku Abubakar bears no grudges; he has said that, and he means it.

“As a democrat, he subscribes to the universality and constitutionality of the freedom of association, which is one of the pillars of democracy, without which democracy would be meaningless,” he said.

Ibe said the former vice president remains committed to the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and has no plans to join another party.

“We have addressed the issues about coalition, and remember that we had a statement to that effect; Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is not leaving the PDP, and he has said that clearly.

“As for those talking about him leaving the PDP, we don’t know where they are getting that from,” Ibe said.

Okowa had on Monday said he regretted accepting to run as vice presidential candidate to Atiku in the 2023 election, adding that it went against the sentiments of his people.

“Even when we were campaigning, I realised our people were not interested in having another northerner come into power,” Okowa had said.

The former Delta State governor also said President Bola Tinubu should be allowed to complete his eight years in office.

“For the stability of this nation, I also do believe that, yes, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu was elected president in 2023, and for the stability of Nigeria, it is best for us to have him complete his eight-year tenure, then the presidency can move back to the North,” he said.