In a swift reaction to the threat by a 65-year-old retired teacher who served in the Bauchi State Civil Service, Mr. Alhamdu Dan’Azumi, to terminate his own life, the National Pension Commission (PenCom) on Friday promised to assist him in getting his entitlement.
Head, Research and Corporate Strategy of the commission, Dr Aminu Farouk, made the promise while reacting to the March 4 death threat by Da’Azumi in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
It was reported on March 6, that the prompt intervention of few journalists and others around saved the life of Dan’Azumi.
Dan’Azumi was a primary school teacher who retired from active service in the Ningi Local Government Authority, Bauchi State, in 2016 and started collecting pension in 2018.
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The report had indicated that Dan’azumi had walked into the premises of the Nigerian Union of Journalist (NUJ) Press Center, Bauchi State and attempted to commit suicide for the refusal of the state government to settle his gratuity years after retirement from active service.
Dan’Azumi reportedly chanted: “I have worked for 35 years and retired and I am entitled to my gratuity.
“I cannot even sit with my family because I can hardly cater for their needs, please help me.”
It added that Dan’Azumi claimed that he was indebted to the tune of N800,000 and had been HIV positive for over 20 years.
Farouk said that Bauchi State where the aggrieved worked and retired, was not implementing the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).
He, however, pleaded with Dan’azumi to write a letter of complaint and send to PenCom, as the commission was willing to intervene quickly.
“Although Bauchi State is not implementing the CPS, the retiree can send us a complaint.
“We shall see how we can assist him to get his entitlements,” Farouk said.
Farouk said PenCom would continuously live up to the expectations of catering for Nigerians at old age. (NAN)
