PenCom, Ngige Query Intercellular over N230m Pension Debt

Following a petition raised last week by former workers of Intercellular Nigeria Plc over pension deductions from their
salaries that was not remitted to their respective Retirement Savings Accounts (RSAs), the National Pensions Commission (PenCom) and Minister of Labour and Productivity, Dr. Chris Ngige,
have reportedly issued second-level queries on the development to the management of the company.

Intercellular, which now trades with a new business name, InterC Network, as a data service provider was accused by its former employees of taking 82
months pension contributions of 400 workers worth N230 million but failed to remit same to their Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs).

Through their association, the former workers consequently invited PenCom, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC), National Communications Commission (NCC), as well as the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) to look into the allegation with the hope that the company would be compelled to remit the alleged deductions.
But providing an update on the situation to THISDAY on Sunday in Abuja, the spokesperson of the distressed former workers, Mr. Barack Lawrence, stated that Ngige and PenCom had taken up
their petition and subsequently issued queries to the management of InterC Network.
Lawrence stated that their petition received the attention of the labour and productivity ministry, as well as other
relevant agencies of government. He added that the workers also met with the various agencies of government on the situation.

“We appear to be edging closer to
justice as both the National Pension Commission and the Federal Ministry of Labour and Productivity have sent a second level query and summoned management of InterC Network to a meeting with the Minister of Labour and Employment,” said Lawrence.

He further stated: “We are in frequent touch with all the relevant organs of government at the highest level in a bid to obtain justice and full payment of all
our entitlements without exception.

“No threat or intimidation of any sort from the company as we have witnessed in recent past will deter us from pushing on. We are a depressed people deprived of our legitimate earnings over the years we worked tirelessly for the company with our useful and significant active service life,
and no cruel attempt to deny us our wages will ever stand.”

Lawrence said the ex-workers were hopeful the government would get the company to comply by the pension laws of the country and pay them with no
exception.

According to him, “We are in an era of change, we want to see the change mantra of the incumbent government affect us positively by compelling InterC Network to thaw the path of honour and pay us all our monies without exception.”