By:Nghiinomenwa-vali Erastus
Pensioners, beneficiaries, and other annuitants who have not provided their unique biological or physical characteristics for the purpose of identification will not receive their payouts or annuities for March 2023.
This has been announced by the Government Institutions Pension Fund (GIPF)’s General Manager for Marketing and Stakeholders Engagement, Edwin Tjiramba, yesterday.
Biological measurements or physical characteristics (biometrics) is a form of identification beyond physical documents.
Biometric identification involves fingerprint mapping, facial recognition, and retina scans which form part of biometric technology- these are just the most recognised options.
The Fund has announced that it will suspend monthly benefit payments during March 2023 to all those pensioners, spousal and children beneficiaries who have not yet enrolled on the Fund’s new biometric enrolment system by 28 February 2023.
Tjiramba said the Fund decision will also affect all those members who entered retirement at the end of January 2023.
He explained that the Fund launched the new biometrics enrolment and verification system on 1 August 2022 and has since embarked on nationwide outreach.
The outreach was to raise awareness and to enroll pensioners and affected beneficiaries to secure their monthly pension benefits going forward.
“Enrolment in the biometric system is key to ensuring that the Fund pays benefits to the rightful beneficiaries and on time,” said GIPF principal officer, David Nuyoma.
As such, pensioners and beneficiaries are encouraged to go to nearby mobile teams in the regions and enroll, as well as at all GIPF regional offices countrywide without delay.
“On average, the Fund pays N$220 million per month in pension benefits and fully understands the safety net this provides to many Namibian families,” Nuyoma said.
The Eagle FM Business Desk informal assessment has found that biometric identification has a
The country Mobile Telecommunication (MTC) has also launched a programme to go beyond document identification and to include biometric information.
Biometric or physical characteristics are relatively fixed and individualised — even in the case of twins.
Each person’s unique biometric identity can be used to replace or at least augment password systems for computers, phones and restricted access rooms and buildings.
Email: erastus@thevillager.com.na