All those who have maintained an on-going interest in the Fund will welcome the concerns raised by some of the new Board members on the investments.
The announcement that an Australian team will review the FNPF investments gives credence to the concerns raised by many, inside and outside of the Parliament .The investigations by the Australian team hopefully will restore some confidence in the Fund which has suffered serious blow with the suspension of its two senior most officers.
But the review of the investments is only a part of the concerns of the members. There have been on-going concerns on the overall operations of the FNPF. In this regard hundreds of members remain dissatisfied with the service being provided by the management. Members have to knock around for days to get information or receive forms in time.
If you are a pensioner, and circumstances require you to change your address then can forget to receive your renewal certificates even if you have advised the change of address. Reminders have no effect.
A majority of members are simple people with limited resources and removed from the modern day gadgetry. It is important that the FNPF staff have a sense of service rather than a misplaced attitude that attending to members’ concerns and rights is a favor.
The Board should also carry out an enquiry on its operations through an independent committee. The committee should have the mandate to receive submissions from members to ventilate their concerns and experiences.
I moved two motions in the Parliament in this regard but the government voted against it claiming that Fund was operating very efficiently and there were no doubts in this regard. Subsequent revelations have proved government wrong.
Therefore, to restore members trust and faith in the FNPF a public enquiry has become imperative.
