AGAINST the backdrop of decades of inefficiency and ineptitude in the management and administration of pension fund and the suffering pensioners go through before getting their monthly allowances, the introduction of electronic pension (e-pension) scheme recently announced by the former Head of Service, Ms Amal Pepple makes sense. Every necessary step should be taken to ensure that the scheme works in order to make the payment of pension hassle-free.

Under the existing situation, pensioners suffer deprivation, injustice and inhuman treatment. They are subjected to untold hardship and stress just to get their monthly stipend. Many pensioners don't receive their allowances for upwards of three to six months and in some cases one full year. Funds meant for the payment of pension are regularly diverted and/or embezzled by unscrupulous officials. The disorder in the system encourages massive corruption.

For example, thousands of ghost pensioners in many states of the federation, are fraudulently paid millions monthly. Bureaucracy holds sway at all levels of pension administration in all tiers of government. The endemic problems led to the reforms that produced the current Pension Payment System, under which private administrators appointed by government manage a contributory pension scheme. Some progress has been made so far in that regard.

But millions of retirees are excluded from this system. These are the ones who must receive their pension allowance under the old system. The e-pension scheme is particularly designed for this category of pensioners.

The aim of the scheme, it was stated, is "to bring some relief to pensioners so that their salaries will be paid on time and if there is delay such delay would attract interest to the account".

Under the new system, the biometric data of the pensioners would be captured and stored to effectively eliminate all the malpractices inherent in the old system. Pensioners will no longer have to queue up at payment centres. Their accounts nationwide will be credited automatically through the banks. They will also receive credit alerts to that effect.

On the face value, the new system holds much promise. But this depends on its implementation. It is important to note that e-systems are not necessarily fool-proof. They can be easily abused, and it is for this reason that there should be checks and balances to prevent fraud.

For the first payment period, the operation of the new system uncovered over 1,800 duplicate pension records with the same account details, this led to the recovery of over N75 million. Without an e-payment system, such fraudulent payment records deliberately prepared to rip off the system will not be discovered.

Altogether, there is no doubt that pensioners deserve to be treated well and have their payment remitted on time. Whereas the new payment scheme is meant to make things easier for pensioners, there are a few hurdles ahead.

How would the pensioners be made to provide their biometric data? Won't this involve inviting thousands of old men and women to Abuja or the state capitals for the purpose of taking their biometric data? That would be stressful, especially, for those that are sick or bedridden. There should be a way of obtaining the biometric information of this category of pensioners, without exposing them to unbearable stress.

The insistence on ownership of bank account, could also present a problem. Many pensioners are weak and feeble and can hardly go to a bank. Perhaps, for such persons, their duly designated next of kin should be allowed to represent their interest. But certainly if organised properly, the proposed scheme should be easy to implement. The experience so far is that top government officials for profit motives, hijack money voted for pension payment. And when this happens, they are rarely penalised.

The contributory pension scheme has eliminated many of the problems associated with the pension system. The e-pension scheme is equally encouraging. But there should be efficient control to track corruption and to make the scheme serve the intended purpose.