Nigeria: Opara Calls to Criminalise Delayed Pension Payments

• Lawyer Maxwell Opara advocates for legislation to criminalize delayed or denied pension payments in Nigeria.
• He argues that failure to pay pensions when due should attract criminal sanctions, as retirees should not have to protest for their earned entitlements.
• Opara condemned the alleged tear-gassing of protesting pensioners, deeming it a gross violation of their fundamental constitutional rights.
• He offered free legal services to affected pensioners and encouraged them to pursue fundamental rights enforcement in court.
• Opara criticized the National Assembly for inadequate oversight and pledged to sponsor a bill criminalizing pension delays if elected.

He emphasized that the failure to disburse pensions when due should carry severe criminal penalties.

Nigerian lawyer and public affairs analyst, Maxwell Opara, has publicly advocated for robust legislative action to criminalize the delayed or denied payment of pension entitlements. Speaking during an interview with ARISE News on Thursday, Opara asserted that retirees, having dedicated decades of service, should not be compelled to protest to receive funds they have rightfully earned. He emphasized that the failure to disburse pensions when due should carry severe criminal penalties.

Opara underscored the inherent injustice of the current system, where individuals who have served the nation for 35 years are forced to demand their own money, rather than receiving it promptly. He argued that these are not requests for loans but entitlements accrued through years of labor. His proposal aims to introduce a significant shift in Nigerian pension law reform, making the withholding of these crucial payments a criminal offense.

Beyond the call for Maxwell Opara pension criminalisation, Opara also strongly condemned the alleged use of tear gas against protesting pensioners, labeling such actions as a gross violation of their constitutional rights. He specifically cited Sections 34 and 40 of the Nigerian Constitution, which pertain to fundamental rights, arguing that tear-gassing harmless individuals exercising their right to protest constitutes a severe infringement. He further criticized the deployment of security personnel in such situations, suggesting their primary role should be to prevent protests from being hijacked by hoodlums, rather than confronting peaceful demonstrators.

In light of these alleged violations, Opara encouraged affected pensioners to continue pursuing their demands through lawful channels. He explicitly offered to provide free legal services to support their cause, noting that other organizations like the Nigerian Bar Association, the Human Rights Commission, and various public interest litigants could also offer pro bono assistance. He advised that pensioners whose fundamental rights have been violated could approach the courts to seek fundamental rights enforcement pensioners Nigeria, asserting that such actions are legally actionable despite potential denials from security agencies.

Opara also directed criticism towards the National Assembly, suggesting it has provided inadequate protection for the interests of retirees. He highlighted that stronger legislative oversight is crucial to address the persistent challenges faced by pensioners, including prolonged payment delays and burdensome, repeated verification exercises that complicate access to their funds. This critique underscores a broader need for comprehensive Nigerian pension law reform to safeguard retiree entitlements criminal offense Nigeria.

Looking ahead, Opara expressed a personal commitment to driving this legislative change. He stated that if elected as a member of the Federal House of Representatives, he would actively sponsor a National Assembly pension bill aimed at criminalizing delayed pension payments. This proposed legislation would seek to put an end to the current difficulties faced by retirees, transforming the landscape of pension administration in Nigeria by making the failure to pay a criminal offense.

Employers and pension administrators in Nigeria should monitor legislative developments regarding the proposed criminalisation of delayed pension payments, which could introduce new compliance risks. Lawyers representing pensioners may find grounds for fundamental rights enforcement actions given the alleged violations and the offer of pro bono support.

Source: Original reporting via Punch Newspapers