BUJUMBURA, December 24th (ABP) – The National Authority for Pensions and Occupational Risks for Civil Servants, Judges and Judicial Officers (ONPR) held a press conference on Monday, December 24, 2024 in Bujumbura, to present its half-yearly achievements for the 2024/2025 budget year.
ONPR Director General Jean Anastase Hicuburundi stressed that the main goal of the meeting was to inform the public, and more particularly ONPR beneficiaries and affiliates, of the progress made during the first six months of the budget year. He also specified that this approach is part of a desire for transparency and regular access to information concerning ONPR benefits in the two schemes managed: pensions and occupational risks.
The ONPR is based on a Strategic Action Plan for the period 2022-2027, which is the basis for the annual action plans. According to the Annual Action Plan/PTBA 2024-2025, several important achievements were recorded in the first half of the year.
Concerning benefits, the rights of members and beneficiaries were honored regularly. An amount of BIF 7,414,257,680 was paid in pensions and BIF 462,518,110 for occupational risks.
As part of strengthening the financial, managerial and economic governance of the institution, all scheduled meetings took place. Audit and internal control missions were carried out in the various services, and regular monitoring of the implementation of the recommendations of the management bodies was carried out.
In order to bring benefits closer to beneficiaries, the ONPR opened a branch in Buhumuza, the headquarters of Cankuzo province. Broadcasts on IZERE FM in Rumonge have been maintained and are continuing in accordance with the programmes. Printable communication tools, such as the quarterly bulletin “Menya ONPR” and leaflets have been produced and distributed, Hicuburundi underscored.
To improve its visibility in the country’s five new provinces, Hicuburundi did not fail to point out that seven billboards have been installed: two in Bujumbura city, two in Gitega, one in Cankuzo, one in Makamba and one in Ngozi. A documentary film on the activities of the ONPR has also been produced.
Furthermore, in terms of building human resources capacities, training on public procurement procedures has been provided to staff. Rehabilitation work on certain premises has been undertaken to improve working conditions. A biannual bulletin of statistical data has been produced, and the preparation of the statistical yearbook is in its final stages.
As part of the ONPR investment policy, the construction site of a six-storey building in the political capital has been launched, he said.
It is worthy to note that almost all the activities planned in the ONPR 2024-2025 Annual Work and Budget Plan (PTBA) have been carried out with satisfaction.