As NIW recruits a new Chief Executive, TUV leader Jim Allister is asking the DRD minister why, in view of the modern governmental approach to pension contributions, the £150,000 pa job has been advertised offering a whopping 26.9% employer contribution to a pension pot and a mere 3.5% employee contribution?
At a time when employee pension contributions have been increasing across the public sector and employer contributions reducing, Mr Allister is demanding to know why the new chief executive will benefit from a public purse contribution of £40,000 to his/her pension pot, while contributing only £5,000 themselves.
Commenting Jim Allister said, “I find it amazing that at a time when low paid public servants are being asked to contribute more to their pensions that this £150,000 post can be advertised with an annual pension contribution handshake from the public purse of £40,000 pa, and the beneficiary is asked to contribute a mere 3.5% of salary. Why is government not practising what it preaches on public pensions? Why is the CEO of NIW to get almost twice the average public sector wage paid into his/her pension pot each year by the hard pressed taxpayer?
“These are matters to which I expect answers from the DRD and DFP ministers in consequence of the following tabled Assembly Questions:
To ask DRD why was the opportunity not taken upon recruiting a new Chief Executive of NIW Water to increase the required employee pension contribution above 3.5% and reduce the employer contribution of 26.9% of salary, in order to align same more closely with the modern governmental approach.
To ask DFP is the minister satisfied that NI Water did not take the opportunity, upon recruiting a new Chief Executive, to increase the required employee pension contribution above 3.5% and reduce the employer contribution of 26.9% of salary, in order to align same more closely with the modern governmental approach.
