Africa-Press – Liberia. A ‘retired’ government teacher says he’s frustrated, and wants to die due to unpaid pension benefits.
“Since I retired in 2017, I have not received a dime from the government, thereby indebting me to so many people. I am now tired of walking up and down between the Ministry of Education (MoE) and the National Social Security Corporation (NASSCORP) without results,” James Singbe told this newspaper over the weekend.
Singbe said since his retirement, he’s yet to receive his just benefit due him over the years.
Singbe, who now lives with some non-related “goodwill” Liberians in the New Life Community of Johnsonville, Montserrado County, says he’s sick, “but I have no money to seek medical attention, therefore. I prefer death to life because of this undue hardship without redress.”
Singbe was previously assigned at the Gblarlay Public School; later transferred to Nyor-Butuo Public School in 2012 prior to his retirement in 2017. He was a science teacher.
On August 22, 2017, MoE wrote Singbe his letter of retirement with a payroll number 46-12-021-0097, commending him for “dedicated and invaluable services to the education sector for seven unbroken years.”
Paragraph two of his letter said his name was forwarded to the Civil Service Agency (CSA) for retirement due to old age in accordance with the Standing Orders of the Civil Service Chapter 3, Section 5.1
On February 4, 2020, authorities at the National Social Security and Welfare Corporation (NASSCORP), acknowledged receipt of Singbe’s claim for retirement and assigned him with social security number: 040440330.
NASSCORP wrote: “We wish to inform you that after scrutinizing all relevant documents submitted by your former employer(s), your claim has been accepted and processed as a Retirement Pension. This is because the total monthly contribution at the time of retirement is 128 contributions, which exceeded 100 contributions as required by NASSCORP General Regulations for regular pension.”
“This retirement Pension,” according to NASSCORP, “represents 27 percent of your average monthly earnings of the best five years from the years before your retirement as provided by the Social Security Act.”
“Based on your contribution records, the retirement pension benefit awarded to you is L$2,480.49, which you will receive monthly for life,” NASSCORP wrote Singbe.
But with all these communications, Singbe said he’s greatly frustrated and wants to give up the ghost, “because I have walked up and down between the MoE and NASSCORP without any tangibles.”
To further legitimize his claim, Singbe displayed his NASSCORP beneficiary identification card with SS no: 040440330 issued to him by the entity on January 20, 2023 to expire on December 31, 2024.
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