By Mujtaba Bello
A pressing appeal has been made to the Head of Civil Service of the Federation to urgently address the systemic issue of non-remittance of National Housing Fund (NHF) deductions from civil servants’ salaries to the Federal Mortgage Bank.
This critical oversight is significantly impeding retired civil servants’ ability to access their rightful contributions, jeopardizing their financial security post-service.
A diverse group of retired civil servants in Kaduna voiced their profound concerns to our correspondent, highlighting the detrimental impact of these unremitted funds. Their testimonies underscore a widespread problem that has left many struggling to claim their deferred savings.
Malam Kallamu Hassan, who retired in 2024, shared a particularly frustrating experience. Despite diligent efforts to facilitate his refund, he has met with persistent roadblocks. His official ledger card clearly indicates deductions totaling approximately one million naira towards the NHF.
However, upon inquiry at the Federal Mortgage Bank, he was informed that only five hundred thousand naira had been remitted on his behalf.
Bank officials advised him to exercise patience, suggesting the remaining sum might eventually be transferred. Yet, eight months later, the outstanding amount remains unremitted, effectively stalling his refund process and causing considerable distress.
Echoing similar sentiments, Mr. Humphrey Mutum, another retired civil servant, recounted a dismaying encounter. Faced with a substantial shortfall between his total deductions and the amount actually remitted, he felt he had no alternative but to accept the partial payment.
He explained that due to the bank’s policy of only processing a single payout to customers, collecting the available amount meant forfeiting the unremitted portion of his hard-earned savings.
Mr. Mutum expressed profound disappointment at the failure of his former employer to fully remit his contributions, urging relevant authorities to swiftly intervene and rectify this critical situation to prevent further financial hardship for retirees.
When approached for comment, officials at the Kaduna branch of the Federal Mortgage Bank courteously declined to provide a statement, directing all inquiries to the bank’s headquarters in Abuja.
They clarified that only the head office is authorized to address matters of this nature and respond to media inquiries regarding NHF remittances.
This ongoing issue underscores a significant administrative challenge within the civil service framework, impacting the post-retirement welfare of dedicated public servants.
The call for intervention from the Head of Civil Service of the Federation highlights the urgency of a comprehensive review and resolution mechanism to ensure that civil servants’ contributions are accurately and promptly remitted, safeguarding their entitlements and restoring faith in the system.
Mujtaba Bello
