Buea - PM Inaugurates Social Insurance Edifice

Qualifiers were not in short supply on Friday to express the joy of the people of the South West Province, and particularly pensioners, when the Prime Minister Head of Government Chief Ephraim Inoni answered present at Mile 17 (in Buea) to inaugurate an ultra-modern National Social Insurance complex that henceforth graces the skyline of the town. The imposing piece of architecture, Chief Inoni said in an address, will definitely satisfy the growing number of pensioners in the South West Province emanating from important companies with large work forces like the CDC, SONARA, PAMOL and many others.

In his speech interspersed by applause from the teeming crowd, praises were poured on the National Social Insurance Fund (NSIF) for its improved services and a call for the improvement of more services to be rendered.

The occasion offered a unique opportunity for Chief Ephraim Inoni to recall Government's realisations in the South West Province. He mentioned the Mutengene-Mile 17 road just completed, the recent laying of the inaugural foundation stone for the Muea to Kumba road whose construction work will soon kick off, the inauguration of the new bridge over the River Mungo, and insisted that social infrastructure in the areas of health, education, basic utilities like potable water and electricity are at the centre of Government's strategy. While acknowledging that Buea and Muea face acute water shortages, Chief Ephraim Inoni pledged to provide adequate water facilities so that the imposing Social Insurance edifice is well preserved. He dubbed the edifice the "Pensioner's Home" and stressed that it was a testimony of President Biya's attachment to senior citizens who merit esteem, dignity, respect "especially at the time of their retirement."

As expected, the July 22 twin elections were a cardinal point in the Prime Minister Head of Government's address who called on his fellow South Westerners to put behind their aggrieved emotions of the primaries and "vote wisely" for the CPDM so as to empower President Paul Biya to continue his economic and social programme "especially at a time when Government action is focused on re-launching mass employment of teachers and nurses and on continuing the construction of roads and other infrastructure." He noted that though significant development projects have been realised in the Province, like Oliver Twist, the people still ask for more. Thus the need for the masses to show appreciation (through the ballot box) of what they have already received come July 22.

In an earlier address, the General Manager of the National Social Insurance Fund Mr. Louis Paul Motaze announced that by the end of the year, his institution will change its payment strategy from quarterly to monthly. He pledged to render improved services to pensioners, castigated the unpatriotic behaviour of some employers who fail to pay pension insurance dues and called on his collaborators to help workers compile their files early enough before retirement. It should be recalled that 25 January 2005 was the date for the laying of the foundation stone of the new building by the Minister of Labour and Social Security. It is a three-storey building including the basement, with three wings and a central nod. Surface area 4,500 square metres; that is 1,500 square metres per storey.

source:allafrica.com