Former Pension Reform Task Team Chairman Offers to Assist President-Elect Buhari Stop Corruption in Sector.

Former Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), Mr. Abdulrasheed Maina

The former Chairman of the Pension Reform Task Team (PRTT), Mr. Abdulrasheed Maina, yesterday, said he is ready with his former colleagues, who were then drawn from the State Security Service (SSS), the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) and the Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) to assist the President elect, Maj. Gen. Muhammadu Buhari stop corruption in the pension sector.

He said one of the achievements of President Goodluck Jonathan was the setting up of the Pension Reform Task Team in 2010, adding that the team in its 2 years of operation was able to recover N280 billion for government.

"The team courageously stopped the stealing of N300 million daily by the management of Police Pension Office in 2011, the stealing of N4.25 billion from the Head of Service on monthly basis and the establishment of an electronic pension management system and smart cards to curb stealing." he said.

Speaking through one of his former members who is the Executive Secretary, Legislative Watch, Hon. Ngozika Ihuoma, while addressing the media in Abuja on how to sanitize the sector, said all those involved in pension theft must be decisively brought to book.

He said: "Thank God that the President elect is a pensioner. Every effort must be put in place to ensure that our senior citizens enjoy the fruit of their labor here on earth." Reacting to statement credited to a coalition of civil Society Group which was led by Comrade Ali Abacha in national daily, not THISDAY, he said Abacha's allegations against the team that comprised SSS, EFFC, ICPC and other paramilitary agencies, were made in sheer desperation, adding that it was his attempt to fight PRTT back because of the blockage of channels of leakages of the pension fund.

To authenticate his claim against Abacha, Maina made available a charge sheet dated 24 June, 2011 (Appendix 9), which was instituted by EFCC against, Messrs Shuaibu Teidi, Ali Abacha and Elder Act.

THISDAY