Pensions go up by 20 per cent
From Zakaria Alhassan, Tamale
THE Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) has announced a 20 per cent increase in the pension levels of its retired clients with effect from January, this year.
This is in line with the policy of SSNIT to increase income levels of pensioners to help ameliorate their plight.
Whilst some receive as much as ¢2 million as their monthly pension allowance, the rates of others are as low as ¢10,000.
The Northern Regional Manager of SSNIT, Nana Barima Ansu-Adjei, announced this at the annual-get-together of the Northern Regional branch of the National Pensioners Association at Tamale over the weekend. He attributed the low level of pension rights to ignorance by some workers during their active service. The manager explained that some workers collude with their employers to declare low income levels to SSNIT which he described as unfortunate because such action is to the benefit of the employer.
“One must, therefore, make sure that his employer pays his right quantum to SSNIT to save him from future misery”, Nana Ansu-Adjei stressed. He observed that pensioners deserve recognition, respect and affection from all those in active service today because they owe their present positions to the sweat and toil of the aged.
Nana Ansu-Adjei said it is in recognition of the unique service and contribution from the pensioners that the management of SSNIT has deemed it fit and appropriate to institutionalise annual get-together all over the country. He underlined the importance of the social security scheme which, he said, is indispensable since it provides the basic financial support for the retired worker or his dependants thereby saving them from destitution. Nana Ansu-Adjei urged the administrators of the scheme to ensure strict compliance in respect of employer and worker obligations. The Northern Region Office of the SSNIT has made available a fully furnished air-conditioned office for members of the Pensioners Association where they meet to deliberate on pertinent issues. The acting Northern Regional Secretary of the Association, Mr. Salifu Mahama, appealed to the management of SSNIT to place them on a high premium to help improve on their lot.