Sh13bn paid to ex-TTCL staff

Dodoma. The government has paid Sh12.7 billion to 245 former employees of the Tanzania Telecommunications Company Limited (TTCL) under the defunct East African Community (EAC).

This was revealed in Parliament in Dodoma by the deputy minister for Finance and Planning, Dr Ashatu Kijaji, during the Questions and Answers session.

She was responding to a question by Mr Deogratias Ngalawa (Ludewa-CCM) who wanted to know when the government would make pension payment to former TTCL employees.

“Payment was effected to 245 employees, 54 others were paid through next of kin after it was proved that they had died. The government pays monthly pension increment to 198 retired employees,” she revealed.

She said the payment was made following the court decision on case Number 69/2005 filed by 254 against the public protesting the government decision to suspend operations of a pensions fund known as the East Africa Non Contributory Pension Scheme.

“In the verdict, the High Court ruled that the government decision to bar the pension fund was wrong in accordance of the law and that the 254 employees who had applied for payment of their benefits including lump sum payment, interest and monthly payments should be paid what they deserve,” she said.

According to her, after the decision, 324 other employees filed another case at the High Court demanding to be included on the list of those being paid pension despite the fact that they were not among those who had earlier filed the case.