Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has announced the full roll-out of the “I Am Alive” Confirmation (IAAC) Solution which will enable pensioners easily confirm their aliveness from the comfort of their homes through smart phones or computer devices.
PTAD Executive Secretary, Dr. Chioma Ejikeme who made the announcement at the Press Conference in Abuja on Friday, recalled that on October 12, 2021, the Directorate officially launched the Pilot Phase of the “I Am Alive” Confirmation (IAAC) Solution.
Adding that the IAAC is an online application platform designed to enable pensioners under the Defined Benefits Scheme easily confirm their aliveness from the comfort of their homes or neighbourhood, using either a smartphone or a computer system.
“Following the launch in 2021, PTAD began with the Pilot Phase, where the application was tested with fifty thousand randomly-selected pensioners across the four operational departments and six geo-political zones.
“While the aim of the Pilot phase was to test its efficacy and user- friendliness, bearing in mind that this novel initiative is meant for our senior citizens”, the Executive Secretary said.
She also recalled that PTAD embarked on massive verification exercises which took place between 2014 and 2019 across all the geopolitical zones of Nigeria. “The field verification exercises cut across all the operational departments of the Directorate, namely:
“The Civil Service Pension Department, The Police Pension Department, The Customs, Immigration and Prisons Pension Department, and finally, The Parastatals Pension Department”.
The ES explained that the aim of the verification exercises was to ascertain eligible pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme, enroll eligible pensioners who were hitherto not on the Directorate’s Payroll, while promptly removing the unqualified.
“The field verification was immensely successful and beneficial to the operations of PTAD resulting in a comprehensive and reliable database, which facilitates the process of budget preparation, accurate pension payments and the determination of outstanding pension liabilities”.
She stressed that continuing with periodic field verifications to ascertain the aliveness of pensioners is not only expensive both for the Pensioners and government but is also a stressful exercise for the senior citizens.
While looking for a solution that would eliminate field verifications became imperative which she said prompted the birth to I Am Alive Confirmation (IAAC) Solution.
Dr Ejikeme noted that the journey to test and provide this Solution has taken PTAD over eighteen months. “They have been challenging months that stretched us as an organisation, as we worked to ensure that our service ethos of “Empathy” for our Pensioners’ welfare is delivered.
“We are proud of our efforts and are hopeful that the solution will have a positive impact on DBS Pensioners as well as PTAD and the Government in general. The Pilot Phase was largely successful, the teething challenges have been identified and resolved.
“And PTAD is ready to fully roll-out the I Am Alive Confirmation (IAAC) solution to our pensioners. This we believe is the way forward as far as validation of the Aliveness of our Pensioners is concerned”, PTAD Boss boldly said.
She assured esteemed pensioners that the “I Am Alive” confirmation solution has been designed with their utmost welfare in mind leveraging on accuracy, reliability, user -friendliness and convenience. “PTAD has over the years promised the era of bringing out our aged pensioners for field verification is over, and we are standing by this promise.
“The IAAC Solution is available to ALL our VERIFIED Pensioners across the four Pension Departments. It is simple and easy to use, and we have provided short video for instructions. The application can be accessed using a smart mobile phone, desktop or any computer device that has Internet access.
“Simply go to www.ptad.gov.ng, scroll down and click on the “I Am Alive” link at the bottom. If it is a Desktop, the link will be at the top right. Only the Pensioner’s Bank Account number provided during verification used for receiving pension, and the Pensioner’s number on the Verification Acknowledgement Slip are required.
Dr Ejikeme warned that PTAD does not need BVN, ATM Card number or PIN to process the “I Am Alive” Confirmation (IAAC) Solution, asking pensioners to beware of fraudsters. “Once you have logged in, follow the prompts. It is important to let our Pensioners know that nobody can tamper with your pension payment through the “I Am Alive” platform.
“If somebody with a smartphone or computer system in your neighbourhood helps you to confirm your aliveness, the person cannot steal your money. All we need is a confirmation that you are still alive and eligible to continue to receive your pension”, she assured.
PTAD ES pointed out the benefits of the I’m alive Confirmation Solution to DBS Pensioners and the Federal Government are huge, “Govt funding of pensions will be accurately estimated as deceased pensioners are immediately removed from the Payroll. Funding for field verification will be completely eliminated.
“Pensioners are no longer required to travel long distances with the attendant stress and inconvenience to attend verification exercises. The result of “I Am Alive” Confirmation (IAAC) Solution is received via SMS to the phone of the Pensioner.
“To ensure efficient, effective delivery, the availability of the Confirmation program has been staggered according to departments as follows: Police Pensioners, 14th April, 2023 to 13th October, 2023.
“Customs, Immigration and Prisons Pensioners, 1st June, 2023 to 31st December, 2023. Civil Service Pensioners 1st July, 2023 to 31st January, 2024 and Parastatals Pensioners 1st August, 2023 to 28th February, 2024.
She also noted that PTAD has provided a six-month grace period for every department and their pensioners to complete their “I Am Alive” Confirmation (IAAC) Solution, stating that the Directorate has trained Pension Desk Officers from the Ministries.
“Departments and Agencies our pensioners retired from, as well as the various Representatives of Pension Unions’ on the use of this application, and they will assist pensioners who are unable to carry out the confirmation on their own.
Dr Ejikeme revealed that in coming weeks, the Directorate will embark on a massive awareness campaign on the “I Am Alive” Confirmation (IAAC) Solution, to sensitise the pensioners and the general public on the commencement schedule.
She said, “I Am Alive” Confirmation (IAAC) Solution is free, PTAD does not charge fee for this confirmation. No PTAD staff will ask you for payment to process your pension or arrears, anyone who demands for payment from you is a fraudster and should be reported immediately.
While using this opportunity to thank the Honourable Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs. Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed (CON) for the support and encouragement, the Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP) for their support throughout the stakeholder sessions where the application was demonstrated and tested with various Pensioners.