By TAIYE BAIYEROHI

Mr Ivo Takor, Director, Centre for Pension Rights Advocacy, has commended the proposed reintroduction of gratuity payments under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).

Takor, while speaking with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Sunday, said this was a welcome development, noting that the initiative be guided by legal, inclusive, and equitable principles.

He made these remarks while reacting to the recent partnership between the National Pension Commission (PenCom) and the Office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation (OHCSF), aimed at exploring the reintroduction of gratuity for civil servants under the CPS

He noted that the initiative must go beyond policy declarations to deliver lasting and fair outcomes for workers.

?For this effort to yield sustainable and equitable outcomes, it must go beyond mere policy pronouncements,? he said.

Takor recommended three key steps to ensure the success of the initiative.

He stated that any decision to reinstate gratuity must be backed by law, adding that the Pension Reform Act 2014 must be amended to incorporate gratuity as a statutory benefit.

?Relying solely on administrative directives or policy guidelines will make the initiative susceptible to inconsistency and possible reversal,? he said.

Takor also advocated for a change in the language of the initiative.

He said the use of the term ?civil servants? is too narrow and might exclude other categories of public workers.

?Using the term ?public servants? would be more appropriate, as it covers all employees in Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs), ensuring no group is left out,? he stated.

The pension rights advocate further advised o the initiative should be extended beyond the federal civil service to state workers and the private sector.

He said, ?In many states, workers are denied gratuity, even as governors and their deputies enjoy lifelong benefits after eight years in office.?

He also pointed out disparities in the private sector, where top executives continue to receive generous severance packages while ordinary workers lose access to gratuity.

?This disparity is unjust and must be addressed in the spirit of equity and social justice,? Takor said.

He noted that the pension reform of 2004 was never intended to strip workers of their existing entitlements but to enhance retirement security.

He said, ?Any reform that diminishes workers? benefits erodes trust and undermines the very purpose of social protection in retirement.?

Takor added that reinstating gratuity is not just a policy correction but a moral obligation and a reaffirmation of the dignity of labour.

Also reacting, Dr Babatunde Raimi, a pension coach, commended the initiative, adding that gratuity serves not only as a financial cushion but also as a gesture of appreciation for years of selfless service.

According to him, the absence of gratuity in many quarters had contributed to the anxiety, uncertainty, and hardship often faced by retirees immediately after disengagement from service.

He noted that while the CPS had brought transparency and sustainability to pension administration, the emotional and transitional needs of retiring workers must also be addressed through measures like gratuity.

He said, ?This is good news for the Nigerian civil service, and it is a testament to the commitment of the present government, aside from other noble reforms in the pension and retirement airspace.

?If some organisations and state governments still pay gratuity alongside pension entitlements, particularly in the public sector, then this should cut across to promote the principles of equity, fairness, motivation, and dignity in retirement.? (NAN)

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