The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has expressed gratitude to the President, Muhammadu Buhari who since the inception of his administration has made payment of pensions an un-written first line charge.
PTAD Executive Secretary, Dr Chioma Ejikeme who made this known at the Southwest Stakeholders Forum held in Akure, Ondo State on Thursday, said the commitment of the Directorate to the welfare of its pensioners remains sacrosanct.
She also appreciated the support of the able Supervisory Minister, Dr. Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed, the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation and all its other major stakeholders who have made the modest successes achieved by PTAD possible.
According to Dr Ejikeme, “It is our prayer that the President-Elect, will be as favourably disposed towards the pensioners of the Defined Benefit Scheme as the administration of President Buhari has been”.
She pointed out that the Nation cannot afford to go back to the time when the DBS pensioners were owed months of pension arrears and their needs pushed to the back-burner.
“The commitment of PTAD to the welfare of our pensioners remains sacrosanct, and we shall continue our meetings and engagement with the various Pension Unions to ensure quality service delivery”, PTAD ES added.
Dr Ejikeme noted that PTAD has made giant strides and is committed to continuing to make giant strides. “Since our last Stakeholders Forum for the South-West held in Ibadan, Oyo State in March 2022, PTAD has carried out a series of activities which include:
Complete payment of arrears arising as a result of the consequential adjustment to pensions as a result of the increase in minimum wage of April 2019 to the four operational departments in the Directorate.
Complete liquidation of the 126 months outstanding liabilities due to ex-workers of Nigeria Reinsurance Corporation. Complete payment of the 219 months of inherited liabilities to Ex-workers of New Nigeria Newspaper Limited.
Complete payment of the 100 months of inherited liabilities to Ex-workers of NICON Insurance. Complete payment of the 96 months of inherited liabilities to Ex-workers of Delta Steel Company (DSC)
Implemented the 9.7% increment to Ex-PHCN workers with attendant arrears paid. Payment of a total of 48 months of the 84 months inherited arrears owed NITEL/MTEL pensioners in December 2022, leaving a balance of 36 months for complete liquidation.
She said further that through the unwavering support of President Buhari, PTAD has completely liquidated the inherited unfunded liabilities of all the Defunct/Privatised Privatised Agencies handed over to PTAD in 2017, with the exception of NITEL/MTEL with a balance of 36 months, which the Directorate is fully committed to liquidating.
The ES spoke about the launch of the full roll out “I AM Alive” confirmation solution which was held on the 14th of April, 2023 for use of Pensioners in ensuring an efficient and effective delivery, she said a six-month grace period provided for every department and their pensioners to complete their IAAC Solution.
She also noted that PTAD has trained Pension Desk Officers from the Ministries, Departments and Agencies their pensioners retired from, as well as various Reps of Pension Unions’ on the use of this application, and assist pensioners who are unable to carry out the confirmation on their own.
Dr Ejikeme warned pensioners against patronising pension fraudsters, saying no staff of PTAD will call or send any message to them requesting for payment or ask them to call a certain phone number before their arrears or gratuity will be paid.
“Once you get such messages, you should know that PTAD did not send them and will never do so. Kindly share this important information with your members so they do not fall victim to these fraudsters”, PTAD ES explained.