FUTA SSANU Protests Unremitted NHF Deductions, Demands Government Action

Members of the Senior Staff Association of Nigerian Universities (SSANU), Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA) branch, have staged a protest over the non-remittance and delayed refund of contributions to the National Housing Fund (NHF), accusing relevant government agencies of negligence and insensitivity to workers’ welfare.

Leading the protest in Akure at Montage Bank Premises, the branch chairman, Comrade Felix Adumbi, expressed deep frustration over what he described as years of injustice suffered by members who faithfully contributed 2.5 percent of their salaries to the scheme.

Some of the Union members and the affected retirees were seen with agitations placards with the inscription, “our contribution our right, our future”, we say no to the scam being perpetrated by FMB Akure”, NHF Contributions is our right not privilege”, Whoever withholds senior citizens money is caused already”.

According to the Association leader, the law establishing the NHF clearly states that retirees who are not indebted to the fund are entitled to a refund of their contributions within three months of retirement. However, he lamented that members who retired as far back as 2020 have yet to access their funds.

Adumbi said, “For over six years, our members have been retiring, yet none has been able to collect their contributions. This is very painful. Some of these retirees have even died while waiting for their money.”

He called on the Federal Government to urgently investigate the role of the Integrated Payroll and Personnel Information System (IPPIS), under the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation, over alleged failure to remit deducted funds between 2020 and 2024.

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“The bank has claimed that funds deducted during our time under IPPIS were not remitted to them. If this is true, then the government must investigate and ensure that those responsible release the money without further delay,” he added.

The union warned that the protest marks the beginning of a series of actions that could be intensified if their demands are not met, stressing that the issue affects both retired and serving members.

“We are speaking out now because we will also retire one day. If we don’t challenge this injustice, it will continue,” Adumbi stated.

In response, the Branch Manager of Federal Mortgage Bank in Ondo State, Surajudeen Mohamed Jimoh, denied allegations of wrongdoing by the bank, insisting that all funds received were intact and properly managed.

He clarified that the problem stemmed from unremitted deductions during the period when workers were under IPPIS.

“The money deducted through IPPIS was not fully remitted to us. The union should engage the IPPIS office to recover those funds so retirees can access their entitlements,” Jimoh said.

Addressing complaints about access to housing, Jimoh noted that several housing estates were available in Akure, but only applicants could benefit from them.

“If they say they don’t have access, it means they didn’t apply. We have about eight estates in Akure, and everyone who applied has been allocated a house,” he explained.

On the issue of refunds, the bank manager assured that he would escalate the matter to higher authorities, stating that decisions on payment timelines rest with management and policy makers.

The FUTA SSANU branch has vowed to escalate its agitation nationwide, calling on its national body and other stakeholders to intervene and ensure justice for affected members.