In apparent response to the rising economic hardship in the country, the number of disengaged workers that withdrew money from their pension savings for sustenance increased by 33.9 per cent in the fourth quarter of 2023, Q4’23.

According to the Q4’23 report released by the National Pension Commission, PenCom, 10,299 Retirement Savings Account, RSA, holders that lost their jobs, withdrew from their pension savings in Q4’23, up 33.9 percent from 7,688 of such withdrawals the previous quarter, in Q3’23.

In Q4’23, the 10,299 RSA holders withdrew N6.5 billion from their pension savings against 7,688 RSA holders that withdrew N8.6 billion in Q3’23.

The Pension Reform Act permits disengaged workers to withdraw 25 per cent of their pension savings four months after losing their jobs.

The report stated: “In Q4’23, a total of 10,307 RSA holders requested to access 25% of their RSA balances due to temporary loss of employment. Out of that, 10,299 RSA holders’ requests were approved, while eight were rejected because their ages were above 50 years.

“Out of the 10,299 applicants whose benefits were approved, 9,819 were from the private sector, while the remaining 480 were from the public sector. The sum of N6,504.96 million was approved for the 10,299 RSA holders under the age of 50 years.”

The report further states that: “In Q3’23, a total of 7,697 RSA holders requested to access 25% of their RSA balances due to temporary loss of employment. Out of this figure, 7,688 RSA holders’ requests were approved, while nine were rejected because their ages were above 50 years. From the 7,688 applicants whose benefits were approved, 7,242 worked in the private sector, while the remaining 446 worked in the public sector. The sum of N8,628.27 million was approved for the 7,688 RSA holders under the age of 50 years.”

Meanwhile, on contributions for residential mortgage, the report stated: “A total of 1,128 RSA holders requested to access up to 25% of their RSA balances towards payment of equity contributions for residential mortgage during the quarter under review. Approvals were granted to 991 requests amounting to N9,618.74 million, while 137 were rejected due to incorrect documentations. Out of the 991 applicants whose benefits were approved, 304 were from the private sector, while the remaining 687 were from the public sector.”

AS the Peoples Democratic Party, PDP holds its National Executive Committee, NEC meeting today,  former Federal Commissioner for Information and South South Leader,  Chief Edwin Clark has called for the setting up of a Disciplinary Committee that will be saddled with the responsibility of probing the anti-party activities of former Governor of Rivers State and others whose roles led to the failure of the PDP in the 2023 elections.

Clark described Wike who is presently the Minister of the Federal Capital Territory Administration, FCTA as the greatest enemy of the  PDP,  manipulating it, with an intent of destroying it.

He added that his anti party activities must be dealt with decisively, by setting up a strong disciplinary committee made up a strong people with resilience to resist pecuniary gains.

In a statement on Wednesday in Abuja,  the Elderstatesman has also called for the immediate dissolution of the present National Working Committee, NWC of the PDP for what he described as their anti-party activities.

Clark’s statement is titled, ” As the National Working Committee, (NEC) of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) meets: A Poser- PDP: To be or not to be?”

The Leader of Pan Niger Delta Forum, PANDEF said that after the dissolution of the NWC, an Acting National Chairman should be appointed in accordance with the Constitution of the party, adding that there was a precedence  during the tenure of Prince Uche Secondus, who was still in court, when the party appointed another Acting National Chairman.

According to the Leader of Southern and Middle Belt Leaders Forum,  SMBLF, the  party should immediately revisit the on-line registration of its members as it was initiated by the then National Chairman, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, to save the party from depending on individuals, just as he said that some overzealous members of the party have hijacked it for their selfish gains.

Clark has warned the party that if the former Vice President and the 2023 Presidential candidate,  Atiku Abubakar is made the candidate for 2027 elections, PDP will collapse as the second principal party in the country today.

Clark said, ” I know that many people who read this article will say to themselves that they thought Chief Edwin Clark said he has retired from active and partisan politics. Yes, I said I have resigned from partisan and active politics. But it was one of the famous philosophers Aristotle, who said “Man is by nature a political animal.”  He went on to narrate that because no human can flourish on their own, there is a natural tendency of man to partner with their fellow men.

“And one of these partnerships is that relating to polis, which is the Greek word for community; from where is derived political partnership. Therefore, for as long as Almighty God keeps me alive, both physically and mentally, I will continue to speak on governance and political matters, especially when it is tending to adversely affect our nation.

“The Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) was set up by leaders of like mind who assembled in the nation’s capital, Abuja, on 28th July, 1998, to work together “for the speedy restoration of democracy, achievement of national reconciliation”, amongst others. Some of us joined immediately the idea of such an egalitarian political party was enunciated, because we felt that was what our dear country needed and still needs.

“But what has happened today? Some overzealous members of the party have hijacked it for their selfish gains. Some of us have been shouting and warning against this. I recall that in order to avoid “money bags” taking over the party, instead of the National Working Committee (NWC) of the party, as provided by its Constitution, a one-time National Chairman of the party, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, former Governor of Enugu State, during his tenure, proposed in accordance with the party’s provisions, payment of membership dues by all members with which the party will be run. He denounced the issue of deep pockets taking over the party when in his acceptance speech in 2010 stated “Needless to say, we need money to prosecute our elections but I can assure you that Ghana-Must-Go bags will not be needed at the National Secretariat of PDP in order to win primary elections. There will be no room for cash-and-carry democracy in the PDP because it is the bane of true democracy.

” My sincere advice to the members of the party’s NWC which is composed of notable politicians, is that they should be courageous enough to: Set up a Disciplinary Committee to investigate the anti-party activities, particularly the roles played by some members which led to the failure of the PDP in the 2023 elections;

“To dissolve the existing NEC of the party for their anti-party activities;

“To appoint an Acting National Chairman in accordance with the Constitution of the party. This was what happened during the tenure of Uche Secondus, who was still in court, when the party appointed another Acting National Chairman;

“The party should immediately revisit the on-line registration of its members as it was initiated by the then National Chairman, Dr. Okwesilieze Nwodo, to save the party from depending on individuals, because as they say, he who pays the piper, dictates the tune.”

Earlier,  the Elderstatesman said, “Rumours have it that Atiku is already preparing for the 2027 presidential election. If this is allowed, PDP will collapse as the second principal party in the country today. While no one is contesting his right of contesting or indicating interest for the presidency of the country as many times as he wishes, which as the last count is up to five times, he should also know that fair play is the bedrock of the game. 

“Another person that also seems to be holding or going for the jugular of the PDP, is Barr. Nyesom Wike. Honestly, I lack words to describe his actions. The nearest description I can give for his actions is political androgynous, he is neither in PDP or APC. He seems simply acquisitive, and the greatest enemy of PDP, manipulating it, with an intent of destroying it.

“Most of us supported Barr. Wike in his agitation against Alhaji Atiku Abubakar. But he has gone too far in causing tragedy in PDP. His anti party activities must be dealt with decisively, by setting up a strong disciplinary committee made up a strong people with resilience to resist pecuniary gains, who are courageous to investigate his activities, and that of any other person/persons suspected to engage in anti-party activities. The seeming contest for the soul of the PDP between himself and Alhaji Atiku Abubakar is not only ridiculous but a negation of the ideals for founding the party.

“Even though Nyesom Wike, had a good case considering what transpired during the last presidential primary election of the PDP, he has crossed the red line. Today, he is dancing naked in the market. He regards himself as the leader of both the PDP and APC in Rivers State, and that is why I described him as someone who can be referred as a political androgynous; an acquisitive person. Wike used his influence on APC National Chairman, Alhaji Umar Ganduje, to set up a caretaker committee of the party in Rivers State under the leadership of Mr. Tony Okocha, a position he, Mr. Okocha, sees as an opportunity to deride, harass and attempt to humiliate an elected Executive Governor of the State, Siminalayi Fubara.

“The story is the same in PDP in the State; where Barr. Wike recently removed the State Chairman, and recommended him for a federal appointment. Now, with his control of PDP and APC in Rivers State, he has appointed some APC members as caretaker committee members of the party in Rivers State.

“Is Nyesom Wike only waiting for the appropriate time to destroy the PDP and become a full fledge member of the APC?  It is alleged that it is the same Barr. Wike who sponsored the 27 members of the Rivers State House of Assembly, to defect from the PDP to the APC, using the National Secretary of the Party, who was in court as the reason and that PDP has split.

“Even though these members in accordance with constitutional provisions have lost their seats in the House as a result of their defection to another party when there was no crisis in the party on which platform they were elected, Wike is retaining them with the support of Mr President, to the extent of threatening to impeach the Executive Governor, Siminalaye Fubara.

” I will, at this juncture, like to repeat the question I asked in the book I am writing on PDP, ‘Whither PDP: to be or not to be?’. The inordinate ambition of Their Excellencies Alhaji Atiku Abubakar and Barr, Nyesom Wike, to be president of the country, will kill the party. These two seem to prefer to use their personal funds to establish their leadership, not because of their love for the party. PDP wake up! This is a clarion call.

“It is true that for some time the party had no funds, particularly the time between Ahmed Makarfi and Ali Modu Sheriff. Nyesom Wike was the only Governor who financially supported the party. Again, in his usual manner, he insulted and humiliated the party. He dared them not to hold the party convention in Port Harcourt. The party kowtowed to him. Even after that, he continued to harass and intimidate the party. For instance, he sponsored Uche Secondus to be the national chairman of the party against the wishes of most other members. The same Barr. Wike later on instigated and sponsored the removal of Uche Secondus, two months before the party’s National Convention.

“Barr. Wike’s engagement in brash politics seems to be affecting members of the party including the party’s Acting National Chairman, Amb. Umar Iliya Damagum and the National Secretary, who take instructions from Barr. Wike. Hence, the sixty members on the platform of the party in the House of Representatives, are calling for the resignation and or removal of the Acting National Chairman.”

[Vanguard]