Some retirees have petitioned the Civil and Local Government Staff Association (CLOGSAG) against what they fear are attempts by the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) to short change them.
They are accusing SSNIT of luring them to sign acceptance forms for their benefits when there are ongoing negotiations on the payment of past credits to retirees.
A spokesperson of the group, Micheal Komla Siti, in presenting the petition was concerned that the acceptance form would lead to him forfeiting future benefits.
“If I sign then it means I have committed myself. If in the near future there will be some top up, I am not going to get,” Mr. Siti told Citi News in an interview after submitting the petition.
According to him, his lump sum stood at GHS8,664 after 28 years of contributions.
Receiving the petition, the Executive Secretary of CLOSAG, Isaac Bampoe Addo, said his outfit will work in the best interest of the retirees.
“We have given them two weeks since last week. We want to see what action NPRA will take against SSNIT relating to these issues because it is very clear our pensioners are being given a raw deal.”
He further suggested that his association would take further action.
“The best language in such a situation is for us to show them the union power.”
On the concerns with acceptance forms and attesting to account details of pensioners, SSNIT has said it has no bearing on the payment of past credits.
This was after CLOGSAG had accused SSNIT of acting unprofessionally over ongoing negotiations on the payment of past credits to retirees.
CLOGSAG insisted that SSNIT was sidestepping the procedures because the committee set up to agree on past credits to retirees was yet to agree on the percentage to be paid pensioners.
The association thus asked its members not to sign any form on their pension claims.
Source: Fiilafmonline/CitiNews
