Some retirees in Yobe, Adamawa and Borno have expressed dissatisfaction over the delay in refunds of their contributions to the National Housing Fund (NHF) while in service.

The retirees in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday said that the delay by the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN) had brought untold hardship to them.

Alhaji Danladi Inuwa, who retired as deputy registrar with Federal University, Gashua, Yobe, in 2021, said he had yet to receive his refunds.

?I retired at FUGA in 2021 after putting in six years to complete my retirement age.

?I previously worked with National Water Resources Institute (NWRI) in Kaduna before moving to FUGA.

?To my dismay, when I contacted the Damaturu office of the Federal Mortgage Bank (FMB), they said my refund for NWRI was ready, but computation for FUGA was not completed.

?When I requested for the NWRI refunds, pending the computation of that of FUGA, they said payment could only be done at once,? he said.

Another retiree, Mohammed Shetima, also said he had not received his NHF?s refund, two years after retiring from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

?I retired in 2023 as the Head of Elections and Party Monitoring at Damaturu office of INEC.

?Since then, I have not been paid. When I complained to FMB office in Damaturu, they said I have not been captured on their portal.

?The bank insisted that until I am captured on the portal, which is a digital platform, it will be difficult to pay me my entitlement,? he said.

Sule Dauda, who retired as a registrar with FUGA, however, said he had since received his refunds.

Though, some of the retirees in Adamawa commended the Federal Government for releasing N500 million for onward disbursement to retirees.

However, others raised concerns over the delays in disbursement by the FMBN in Adamawa.

Mrs Amina Bello, a retiree from the Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH), told NAN that she had been refunded on May 16, weeks after completing her documentation on April 19.

?I did not expect the payment to come so soon, but I was surprised to receive the alert.

?I thank the Federal Government for this gesture and urge them to sustain timely payments so that retirees can enjoy the benefits of their savings while still alive,? she said.

Mr Francis Emmanuel, another beneficiary from the FMOH, also expressed appreciation for the refund, which he said came at a critical time.

?I needed funds to renovate my house, and the refund was very helpful.

?Honestly, I thought it would take much longer, I had even resigned myself to the idea that my children might be the ones to benefit eventually,? he said.

NAN, however, reports that some other retirees who spoke on anonymity expressed frustration over delays despite the completion of documentation for months.

?I submitted all necessary documents in early April, and I am yet to receive any payment or feedback.

?We were told funds had been released, but we do not know the reason for the delay.

?Though some of my colleagues in other organisations acknowledged receiving theirs, but am still waiting to receive mine,? one retiree said.

Meanwhile, the situation in Borno was quite impressive as retirees were being refunded without delay, though not many of them were willing to speak on the issue.

Some of the retirees including those who served in the Nigerian Immigration Service, Borno Command, said on condition of anonymity that they have been refunded without much delay.

When contacted, the management of FMBN in Yobe, Adamawa and Borno declined comment on the matter.

NAN learnt further that payments were ongoing and verified applicants would be paid in batches.

The retirees called on the FMBN to expedite the process to ensure all qualified beneficiaries receive their refunds without delays. (NAN)

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