By Haruna Salamu
Former staff of Power Holding Company of Nigeria, PHCN under the aegis of National Association of Disengaged Staff of Power Holding Company of Nigeria, NADES-PHCN, has called on the Senate to investigate the alleged diversion of N27.1 billion meant for the payment of their insurance premium.
Deputy National Chairman of NADES-PHCN (North), Lawal Magini while appearing before Senate Committee on Ethics, Privileges and Public Petition said it became necessary for the association to seek for the intervention of the Senate “to ensure that fairness, justice and equity is done and the outstanding terminal benefits of its members paid within the shortest possible time”.
He said “most disengaged staff of PHCN receive very low, reduced pension ranging from N4,000 to N20,000 monthly, hardly enough to cater for the basic needs of their families”.
Highlights of critical items contained in the alleged diversion of funds meant for ex-PHCN staff insurance premium are “that the sum of N27,188,232,208.20 was approved for the payment of insurance premium of ex-PHCN staff, but was allegedly diverted. This is contained in a report of a research work carried out by the Socio-Economic Rights and Advocacy Projects, SERAP entitled ” from darkness to darkness”; part four, case no. 2, page 27 paragraph 4 under findings.
“That (an insurance company) was at the centre of the alleged diversion being the firm connected to effect payment to the rightful beneficiaries. This is explicitly stayed in the SERAP report, page 27, paragraph 5 under findings”.
“That (a company) was contracted with the sum of N6 billion to commence payment to beneficiaries, but diverted the greater part of the money.
“That ( the company)paid only 98 beneficiaries amounting to the sum of N875 million only and diverted the remaining balance”.
The former PHCN staff urged the SenateCommittee to confirm the above from the EFCC, if need be.
In his final remarks, Senator Ayo Akinyelure, Chairman of the committee adjourned the committee to enable the ex-PHCN staff provide more information from EFCC, Bureau of Public Enterprise, BPE and Polaris Bank.
