Category: Pension

Retirees have lauded the Director-General, National  Pension Commission (PenCom), Mrs. Aisha Dahir-Umar, for her commitment to pensioners and the advancement of pension in the country. 

In statements sent to The Nation to commemorate the  the International Women’s Day today, some retirees and stakeholders described Mrs. Dahir-Umar as a woman of vigour, integrity and incorruptible.

A retiree, Mr. Adeyemi Adeosun, said the PenCom DG’s efforts to ensure retirees were not subjected to untold hardship on retirement were  appreciated.

He said: “I sincerely express my joy to the DG of PenCom. The commission has ensured that retirees and workers are not exploited by their Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs).

“Some of the policies introduced by the commission has made the industry to do things right.”

Citing the Transfer Window that enables workers and retirees to change their PFAs when they are not pleased, Adeosun said the policy has transformed the industry.

“The PFAs come down to the level of the contributors of the scheme to offer them good services and I just want to thank the DG for promoting transparency and accountability.’’

Another retiree added, Mr Mustapha Dogara said: “PenCom has proved to be an outstanding national asset. The commission has indeed made Nigeria’s generation young and old to be very proud. I salute PenCom for attending promptly to complaints from retirees.

Emeke Ikemefuna, also a retiree, said: “I sincerely express my joy to the commission, especially Mrs. Dahir-Umar, who has been steering the ship well.

Another retiree, Mrs Georgina Ezenwa on her part said the DG has shown that women are hard workers and are always dedicated to duty.

Ezenwa advised the DG to continue to be upright and ensure the sanctity of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS)

It would be recalled that the National Association of Nigerian Students (NANS) inducted the Mrs. Dahir-Umar into the association’s ‘Hall of Fame’ in recognition of her service and purposeful leadership in the industry.

NANS commended the director- general for her hard work, exemplary lifestyle, contribution to nation building and the advancement of the pension industry.

The Senate President of the apex students’ body, Comrade Attah Nnalue, at the awards in Abuja, said the NANS Merit Award is presented to those whose exemplify the ideas of living for others and dedicate themselves to national building and service to humanity.

He said Mrs Dahir-Umar had been part of the journey to reform pension administration and management in Nigeria, adding that under her leadership, PenCom attained significant milestones in its implementation of the Pension Reform Act (PRA) 2014.

By Nimotalahi Awoniyi

The administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has paid another set of 532 retirees N1.2 billion their past service benefits prior to the commencement of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) in 2007.

The Director-General, Lagos State Pension Commission, Mr. Babalola Obilana, made this known at the 99th Batch Retirement Bond Certificate Presentation at NECA, Ikeja.

Presenting the certificates to the retirees of the Lagos State Public Service, Obilana said the state had been working in line with the ideals of the CPS.

He stressed that the administration of Sanwo-Olu had been ensuring the consistent payment of pension liabilities and first-class service to its retirees.

He said: “This administration is committed to improving the welfare of our senior citizens and has initiated various programs to secure the financial freedom of our retirees. Today, we are here to celebrate your dedication and service to Lagos State.Your labour while in the public service has not been forgotten. Thank you for your contribution to the dream of a greater Lagos.

“We appreciate our stakeholders, the PFAs/Insurance companies for their relentless efforts towards the success of the CPS. I also want to enjoin retirees to take very good care of themselves because health is wealth. Be prudent with your expenses,” he advised.

EFE: Good day, my name is Efe from Warri. Your efforts to ensure retirees are not subjected to untold hardship on retirement are highly appreciated. I want to know if you only attend to issues concerning federal employees because I am a retired state worker of the local government service commission, Asaba.

  I retired in October 2020. I have not been able to access my RSA even though my PFA, Trustfund Pension sent me a text that I can access my RSA account but at the same time requested a letter from Asaba.

  I am confused. I don’t know what to do. Please do advise me.

PENCOM: Please send your PIN to enable the Commission investigate your complaint.

MOMODU: Hello. On December 16, 2022, I received a text message from Access PFA, formerly FGPL. Its management apologised for the delay in paying my benefit. They said it was due to the upgrading of their systems.

I am waiting to hear from them.

HAMADU: Greetings to the Director-General of PenCom. My name is Hamadu. I retired from the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC), Abuja as Deputy Director on grade level 16/9 in November 2017.

My pension administrator is Stanbic Ibtc. My complaint is on the nonpayment of 2.5 per cent and arrears.

PENCOM: Please, provide your PIN to enable the Commission investigate further

ADOGA: Dear Omobola, my name is Adoga from Makurdi, Benue State. I retired from the Nigeria Railway Corporation in February 2015.

My PFA is Premium Pension. In 2016, I joined Leadway Pensure for Annuity, but my 2.5 per cent is yet to be paid. When l visited the PFA’s office in Makurdi, I was asked to apply for the payment, which I did since July 2022.

Please, help me.

PENCOM: Payment has been made into your Retirement Savings Account (RSA). Please contact your Pension Fund Administrator (PFA).

ANNONYMOUS: I have a problem with my pension. I am a police officer. My pension has not been paid into my pension account since 2017. I have been on this for the past three years by moving from one office to another, but all my efforts proved  abortive. Kindly help me.

PENCOM: Kindly provide your name and PIN.

ABUBAKAR: Hello, my name is Abubakar, a next of kin. The president’s approval of outstanding pension said something about 2014 retirees.

My father died in 2013. Will his  benefit also be paid and what is consolation? How long does it take on average? Thank you.

PENCOM: Please note that for your late father’s benefits to be paid, you must submit some  documents to his Pension Fund Administrator (PFA) for processing.

If you have done this, please forward to the commission the following details: his RSA PIN, full name, name of PFA as well as other vital information to enable the commission expedite action. Thank you.

ANNONYMOUS: I am retired Inspector Isah.

I retired on January 15, 2020 from the Niger State Police Command when I attained 60. But I was paid only 25 per cent lump sum in February 2021 out of what was due to me. I was also put on monthly pension of N31,758 from March 2021 to date.

My complaint is that I deserve to be paid at least 50 per cent. I am really aggrieved.

PENCOM: You are entitled to 25 per cent lump sum

MOHAMMED: Dear madam, we are the administrators of our late father Mohammed. He worked at the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS) from 1987 and was asked to go by the Presidential Taskforce in 2006.

Since then, we have not collected one Kobo from the National Pension Commission (PenCom) or NIS. We don’t know where to go or what to do. Help us.

PENCOM: Please, provide the PFA and PIN to enable the Commission look into your complaint.

DENNIS: Dear madam, my name is Dennis and my Pension Fund Administrator (PFA) is FGPL.

I retired from the Nigeria Police Force on June 1, 2008 and my monthly pension is N26,451.84.

I have been receiving this amount for 14 years and six months and it has not been enhanced. Please, can you tell me why? Thank you.

PENCOM: The pension enhancement is only for Retirement Savings Account (RSA) holders who have received significant growth due to return on investments over the years.

AKPUDOGWU: My name is Akpudogwu and my Pension Fund Administrator (PFA) is Veritas Glanvill Pension. My compliant is that I have been running around for my 25 per cent benefits since my appointment was terminated in April. I have concluded everything and submitted all my documents. Accoding to my PFA, my documents has been sent to PenCom but they haven’t approved the payment. Emails have been sent to them as a reminder, yet no payment.     

PENCOM: Please, provide your PIN to enable the Commission investigate your complaint

AJAYI: Hello, my name is Ajayi. I was born on July 14, 1985. I worked with Prudential Guards and was posted as a guard to Adeola Odeku Ecobank, Lagos, between January 2014 and April 2015.

I was later posted to Civic Centre, Victoria Island, Lagos, between April 2017 and November 2018. But none of my pension is remitted into my Leadway Pensure.

Please, persuade the company to remit my pension for the aforementioned years. Thank you.

PENCOM: Send the complaint to the Commission with copies of the following documents – Letter of Appointment, Payslips for all or some of the period and Letter of Termination/Resignation.

The Pension Transitional Directorate Department (PTAD) is verifying the documents of retirees under the Defined Benefits Scheme (DBS) to sift the genuine ones and Next of Kins (NoKs) for payments, The Nation has learnt.

PTAD stated that monthly payments for pensioners under the DBS had commenced.

Its Executive Secretary, Dr. Chioma Ejikeme, who made this known, assured that genuine pensioners and NoKs under the DBS would receive their pensions in full.

Ejikeme stated that the Directorate has been working behind the scene to ensure that pensioners receive the entitlements.

She said the Directorate has implemented many reforms for the  pensioners’ benefits.

She said they have continued to pay regularly.

She added that over N8.5billion as accumulated arrears of pensions and gratuities to pensioners of the Civil Service Pension Department and the NoKs of deceased pensioners through the Expanded Computation Project has been made ready, noting that the payments were ongoing.

She said: “Part of the things we have been able to do is that we got approval to onboard ex-workers of Assurance Bank and Nigeria National Shipping Line on monthly payroll; completed the payment of 126 months of Inherited Liabilities due to ex-workers of the Nigeria Reinsurance Corporation; and completed the payment of the 219 months of Inherited Liabilities to ex-workers of New Nigeria Newspaper Limited

“We also completed the payment of the One-Off payment to 603 verified ex-workers of the Aluminum Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON); made one-off payment to 620 ex-workers of the Nigerian Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO); implemented the 9.7 per cent increment to ex-PHCN workers with attendant arrears paid.

“We made payment of the arrears owed to the War-Affected Police Officers since their pardon in 2000; undertook the full payment of 33 per cent pension arrears to Civil Service, Police, Customs, Immigration and Prisons Pensioners, which had been outstanding since the year 2010; obtained approval to verify the Defined Benefit Scheme Pensioners of the Bank of Agriculture and place them on the payroll, which is ongoing.

“With the liquidation of inherited liabilities, the burden keeps getting lighter, and we will continue to work with the relevant agencies of government to ensure that accrued pension arrears are fully liquidated, especially the 63 months of inherited pension liability owed to the ex-workers of NITEL/MTEL and their Next-of-Kin which we will continue with soon.

“Having concluded with the Pilot Phase of the “I Am Alive” Confirmation Solution, that was launched sometime last year, may I also use this opportunity to inform the media and our pensioners that the Directorate has concluded plans for the full roll-out of the “I Am Alive” confirmation solution, which is the way forward in terms of pensioners’ aliveness validation under the Defined Benefit Scheme.

 She explained that The “I AM Alive” Confirmation Solution is an e-solution for pensioners to confirm that they are alive from  their homes or neighbourhood using either a smartphone or a computer without coming to the PTAD offices.

She continued: “We can all agree that this solution eliminates the risk and stress involved in travelling to various locations for field verifications, and demonstrates PTAD’s desire to make life easier for our senior citizens and ensure that they continue to enjoy their retirement without stress. This we commit to and will continue to do. The full details for the roll-out of the “I Am Alive” Confirmation solution will be announced in due course, and we count on your support, as always, in disseminating the information.

“In the last nine years of PTAD’s existence, it has been proactively, intentionally and effectively changing the narrative as far as Defined Benefit Pension administration is concerned. It is worthy to note that all the successes and achievements of PTAD would not have been made possible without the support of the President Muhammadu Buhari, the head of our Parent Ministry – the Minister, Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Dr Zainab Shamsuna Ahmed, and our numerous stakeholders. We are indeed truly grateful.’’

The Board of Premium Pension Limited has announced the appointment of Ms. Bennedikter Molokwu as an Independent Director.

She succeeds Professor Nat Ofo, who retired from the board recently after completing his tenure.

The company, in a statement, signed by the company’s Head, Corporate Communications, Aliyu Mohammed Ali, stated that the appointment was part of their effort to provide excellent services and reposition it for greater height.

According to the company, the appointment is expected to deepen the  sound corporate governance culture of the company.

Ms. Molokwu, a Law graduate of the University of Nigeria (UNN), nSUKKA, was called to the Nigerian Bar in 1976 and received a Masters in International and Comparative Law (Cum Laude) from Vrije Universiteit Brussel, Belgium.

The new independent director holds Banking and Management certificates from various Business Schools including Harvard Business School, Boston, Wharton School and Manchester Business School.

A development enthusiast, she attended programmes from reputable schools, such as Citibank Training Centre, New York, IMD Lausanne and Chicago Booth Business School.

A member of the Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), International Federation of Women Lawyers (FIDA),  and Chartered Institute of Bankers (CIBN), Molokwu is a certified Balanced Scorecard Professional.

A Fellow, Institute of Directors (IoD), Ms. Molokwu also served as its President.

As a seasoned corporate governance practitioner, she has contributed to the institutionalisation of Corporate Governance in public and private sector Boards of  where she served.

Ms. Molokwu began her ascent on the ladder of corporate leadership at ITT Europe Inc. Belgium as a Special Assistant to the Director of Planning, then ITT Nigeria Limited.

She worked with First City Monument Bank (FCMB), where she was an Executive Director, Credit Swift Limited as the Chief Executive Officer, Triumph Bank Plc as Chairman, Interim Management Committee before becoming an independent board consultant.

She served on the Boards of Crusader Sterling Pensions Limited, FCMB Plc and Standard Chartered Bank Nigeria Limited.

She is also a Director, Dangote Sugar Refinery Plc, where she chairs the Board Governance Committee; MainOne Cable Company Nigeria Limited, Falcon Corporation Limited. 

 She is Chairman, MainData Nigeria Limited.

NNAM: The publication in The Nation of September 28, 2022 is a welcome relief to pensioners.

  My name is Nnam. I retired in February 2010 from the State Universal Basic Education Board Asaba (SUBEB). I complained that I have not been paid my pension despite going through three times verification in Abuja.

Instead, I have been getting messages of overpayment from PTAD, Abuja. But I want to thank the newspaper for acting on my petition over the non-payment of my pension. PTAD has informed me that my case is receiving attention. Since last week, they have been on the phone with me. I really appreciate the newspaper.

ADEPEGBA: My name is Adepegba. I retired from NIPOST. I was receiving my monthly pensions until September 2020, when I stopped getting it. I am appealing to PTAD to effect the payment of the backlog of arrears and continuous payment of my monthly pensions. I am 90 years old.

ADEREMI: Dear Omobola, l retired from NITEL. l did my verification since January 2OI8 and l am yet to get my pension. The reply of PTAD to my complaint that was published in The Nation of February 8, 2023 about my pension and some of my other colleagues who are yet to receive since January 20I8, when we did our verification in which PTAD said that l was not qualified had been answered by the report of the panel that was set up in 2001.

The panel looked into NITEL and MTEL’s issue by the Federal Government headed by Prince Afoja, when the then law maker approved some of us for pension and we were paid by BPE in 2007, 2009, 20I0. This has overruled the circular of B633O4XIII-879 of June 29, I992. The report of the panel is with the BPE and l believe that PTAD will also have a copy. I thank you for using your good offices to help us.

MEDU: My name is Medu. Kindly help me to recover my arrears, including my gratuity under NEPA/PHCN. I retired in 2006. My complaint is on omission of 3 months arrears.

ENYIA: Good day, my name is Enyia from Boki Local Government Area of Cross River State. My father was a police sergeant. He retired in 2003 and was paid gratuity in 2007. He later died in 2009, while awaiting his pension arrears and monthly pension. As next-of-kin, I have a letter of identification of the deceased next-of-kin; the National Pension Commission’s pension advice; affidavit of next-of-kin from the high court; death registered with the National Population Commission; a photocopy of Access Bank cheque that gratuity was paid into. Thank you.

MAIRIGA: Hello, I am Mairiga, a retired director with a federal share of gratuity. I retired in 2009 and was verified in 2017. I have lodged my complaint in The Nation twice. I visited your office and sent people to facilitate payment of my federal share of gratuity. I was asked to be patient. Life after retirement is challenging and the cost of living for the elderly is very high. My colleagues were paid January 2023 monthly pension, but my name was omitted. Kindly assist in facilitating the payment of my gratuity. Thank you.

EFFIONG: Hello PTAD, I am Effiong, a widow of 12 years. I have three children. My children and I have been suffering since my husband retired and died in 2006. Up till date, his arrears, pension and gratuity have not been paid. As the Next-of-Kin (NoK), I have been verified and I was told payment was being processed. But the time is too long. I pray that I don’t die and we never get paid.

I need to pay for my children’s education into the university, get engaged in small business and feed my children. But I can’t do this if my husband’s reward is not paid. He rendered services and died leaving behind his children and me. The government should pay his entitlements.

OGAR: Dear Omobola, I am Ogar, a pensioner from Cross River State (CRS) with federal share of pension and gratuity. I retired in June 2007 on GL 14, Step 11. I am being paid my monthly pension after the verification of February 2017. But my gratuity has not been paid.

I am, therefore, appealing to PTAD to pay me my federal share of gratuity.

OKORO: Dear Omobola, I read through the pension page of The Nation of November 30, 2022. I was verified by PTAD in 2019. I worked eight years with NITEL as a guard. But up till this moment, I have not been paid. I would like to know whether you could help me too.

IRIOGBE: Dear Omobola, I wish to express my gratitude to you for the good work you are doing for pensioners. Please keep it up. My matter was published and PTAD had said my complaint and that of others were being attended to. We pray the government will make funds available to PTAD to do the needful as payment of the arrears is long overdue.

OYIBO: Dear Omobola. My name is Oyibo. I retired from the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) in 2005. I was cleared during the last verification that lasted for weeks in Calabar. Since my retirement, I have not been paid. Now I am 54 years old.

My name appeared in The Nation that my pension has been computed, but till now I have not seen any payment of arrears or monthly payment in a bank account. Based on my calculation, I am owed for over nine years.

THE NATION: The newspaper will intervene.Therefore, Nnam; Adepegba; Aderemi; Medu; Enyia; Mairiga; Effiong; Ogar; Okoro; Iriogbe; and Oyibo should look out for the newspaper next week for responses from PTAD.

The Micro Pension Plan (MPP) membership is rising as more informal sector participants are realising the benefits of the plan.

Figures show that Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) have registered 89,327 Micro Pension Contributors (MPCs) as at last December.

With the number of registered MPCs, a total N368.03 million has been generated under the Scheme.

The National Pension Commission (PenCom) made this known while sensitising traders on the benefits of the Micro Pension Plan (MPP) at the 44th Kaduna International Trade Fair.

The commission educated Kaduna residents on the benefits of the Plan at the fair organised by the Kaduna Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture (KADCCIMA), in collaboration with the Kaduna State Government.

The Kaduna State Governor Nasir El-Rufai, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Kaduna State Ministry of Business, Innovation and Technology, Dr Yusuf Sale, opened the fair.

The fair also provided PenCom the opportunity to interact and sensitise  the public on its functions and how the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) operates for workers and retirees’ benefits.

PenCom showcased the benefits of the MPP as part of its strategies to expand pension coverage to the informal sector. The MPP guarantees a secured future through steady income at retirement, thereby reducing old-age poverty. 

Officials of PenCom interacted with participants and educated them on the benefits of the MPP.

PenCom’s staff members also provided customer care services.

Numerous visitors, including Retirement Savings Account (RSA) holders, students, were hosted at the stand. PenCom publications, which included Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) on the CPS and MPP, were distributed to participants.

Traders and visitors who thronged PenCom’s stand were excited to learn about the MPP.

The Director-General, National Pension Commission (PenCom), Mrs. Aisha Dahir-Umar stated that the MPP targets the informal sector, comprising Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs), private sector establishments with less than three employees and self-employed persons such as footballers, musicians, actors, painters and even lawyers and architects.

She said: “Section 2(3) of the Pension Reform Act, 2014 (PRA 2014) permits employees of organisations with less than three employees and self-employed persons to participate in the CPS.

“Accordingly, PenCom introduced the MPP to cover persons in the informal sector. Workers in the informal sector, many of whom attended the fair, constitute the majority of the working population and are not covered by any retirement benefits scheme.

“MPP refers to an arrangement to provide pensions to the self-employed and persons operating in the informal sector.

“Other benefits of the MPP include Flexible contribution remittance; Achievement of economic stability objectives of contributors and financial independence at retirement; and the option to withdraw part of savings (40 per cent of contribution) before retirement,” she noted.

In addition, she stated that enrolment into the MPP is simple.

“The minimum age for registration under the MPP is 18. New MPP participants are required to undergo registration with any Pension Fund Administrator (PFA) of their choice. Registration involves opening an RSA by completing a registration form. Once the RSA is opened, the Micro Pension Contributor (MPC) is issued a Personal Identification Number (PIN) by the PFA.

“Self-employed persons belonging to a trade, profession, cooperative or business association; persons with a business name registration, partnership or enterprise; employees operating in the informal sector who work with or without formal employment contract; and other self-employed individuals are eligible to participate in the MPP. Such individuals must reside in Nigeria,” she maintained.

Traders and artisans, however, expressed excitement over the huge benefits of the MPP under the CPS.

MOKAOGWU: I applied for 25 per cent payment but my pension administrator said no because I have sometimes ago received it and it is a one-off payment.

  My position is that I made further contributions when I became gainfully employed and as such should be entitled to another 25 per cent based on the new contribution I made when I became employed.

 I believe it should be so every time one is in or out of employment.  Kindly assist on this subject.

PENCOM: Please note you can access 25 per cent for loss of job only once. You can, however, still access a maximum of 25 per cent towards equity contribution for residential mortgage.

ANNONYMOUS: Dear Omobola, I have a complaint. I requested for my pension from Stanbic IBTC for almost three months. Anytime I request for an update, they tell me it’s awaiting approval from PenCom. I need your kind assistance.

PENCOM: Please, contact your PFA. Your application has not been submitted to the Commission.

ANNONYMOUS: l recently retired from one of the MDAs. What do I do to get my benefits?

PENCOM: Please visit your PFA and ensure that you have all the required documents, have undergone the enrolment exercise and data recapture exercise (if applicable). Your PFA will provide more information to you and guide you through the process.

DAUDA: Good day, my name is Dauda. I applied for payment since on November 22, 2022. I have provided the requirements at Stanbic IBTC Pension office in Abuja, but up till now no any information about it. I would like the commission to assist me to know the position. Thank you.

PENCOM: The RSA holder should please visit his PFA for an update as the application has not been submitted to the Commission.

HAMADU: Greetings Director- General of PenCom. My name is Hamadu, a retired Deputy Director Gl 16/9 at INEC, Abuja. I retired on November 11, 2017. My pension administrator is Stanbic IBTC Pension. My complaint is on the nonpayment of 2.5 per cent and arrears.

ANNONYMOUS: My father’s name is Gabriel. He died while serving the country at the Nigeria Police Force with a rank of inspector in 2008.

We have not been paid death benefit despite submitting the documents since 2012. We have been to Abuja to know what happened but it has not been resolved up till now.

ANNONYMOUS: Good day, please I will like to know if I have been registered for a pension account? I filled a form for account opening more than three times but I have not got a mail or message on the accounts. I would like to know if my account is intact and get an account number.

OBI: Hello, I am Obi, the next-of- kin to my late dad who died in 2017. Six months after, his pension was stopped and I don’t know why?

Also, how do I process his death benefits? He worked with Nigerian Railway Corporation (NRC) and retired in 2005. Kindly help me.

YUSUF: Good day, thanks for your effort in assisting us. My name is Yusuf. I saw my name in The Nation on January 18 and February 15, 2023, requesting for my PIN number, which I have sent to you on January 18. I am looking forward to hearing from you.

IORHEN: A warm greeting. My name is Iorhen, son of the late Mrs Patricia. I am her next-of-kin.

I have pursued her benefits since 2018. Up till now, there has not been any solution for the collection of gratuity and pension.

ANNONYMOUS: I lost my uncle on June 15, 2012 at Nasarawa Local Government and his computed gratuity and pension is N11,396,300, but only N200,000 was paid. I need your help.

AJALA: My name is Ajala. Greetings to PenCom and The Nation. I retired from Nigeria Customs Service (NSC) in June 2009. My complaint is on increment approved by President Muhammadu Buhari for pensioners since July 2021. My Pension Fund Administrator (PFA) is Sigma. I visited my PFA in September 19, 2022 and visited PenCom on October 24 and provide a copy of my PIN as requested in The Nation published on November 23, 2022.

I was told that work was in progress and that I should be patient. But for how long do I need to wait.

Since July 2021, I cannot get my increment.

Kindly help me push up so that I can get my increment be bless amen.

MRS. IKUTEGBE: Good day, I am Mrs Ikutegbe. I am on annuity for life. I retired on March 20, 2014. I worked with the Ministry of Defence, deployed to Nigerian Navy as a Nurse. I have not been paid since December 2021. I have been suffering under Standard Alliance Life Assurance.

THE NATION: The newspaper will intervene. Therefore, Hamadu; Odi; Yusuf; Iorhen; ANNONYMOUS; Ajala; and Mrs. Ikutegbe should look out for the newspaper next week for responses from PenCom.

What is the procedure for a pensioner to change his or her bank account for pension payment?

A pensioner can change his or her bank account through by obtaining statement of account from existing bank; Obtain a letter of non-indebtedness from existing bank; Provide BVN Print out from current existing bank; and Submit documents to the new intended Bank. Write a notification letter to PTAD with copies of above documents.

•How do I correct an information error after I have been verified?

Send a notification to PTAD attaching a photocopy of the verification print out and the supporting document for the change.

•Why monthly pensions are sometimes delayed?

A number of reasons may cause delay to receipt of monthly pension; Non- availability of funds; Change in bank records or account numbering system; Technical glitches on the e-payment platform; and Operational delays by banks.

•Can I still be verified if I missed verification in my zone?

The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate has currently suspended walk-in verification at its HQ and state liaison offices of pensioners captured under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS) until further notice. The suspension will affect pensioners under the Civil Service Pension Department (CSPD), the Police Pensions Department (PPD) and the Customs, Immigration and Prisons Pension Department (CIPPD).

This is to allow PTAD conclude computation exercise for monthly pension payment due to pensioners whose data was collated and verified from across Nigeria. Normally, if you missed the verification in your zone, you could still be verified at our Abuja HQ. To enable us schedule you for verification, kindly scan and email documents to complaints@ptad.gov.ng. The documents are letter or gazette of first appointment; letter or gazette of confirmation of appointment; letter or gazette of last promotion; letter of retirement; Evidence of BNV;  Computation sheet If you worked with the state government and you have Federal share

•What is the status of the 33 per cent arrears?

In 2014, the Federal Government approved an increment in pensions, effective July 2010, and PTAD commenced payment of the 33 per cent pension payment increase in October 2014, and all arrears for the year 2014 were paid in December 2014.

Payments continued in 2016 and additional payments were made in November 2017 to all agencies that have arrears. As at April 2019, PTAD has been able to offset some of the arrears from the pension departments. We are, however, working to ensure THE balance is paid subject to availability of funds.

Norrenberger, an integrated financial services group, has offered tiips on sound financial planning.

The was during its Meet & Greet with the  Norrenberger Abuja Fitlife winners, which it collaborated with the Bodyline Fitness and Gym.

The event brought together over 1,500 participants, who were taught  the importance of fitness, wellness, health and wealth.

Besides, the event featured  fitness and contests, including a half-marathon, Abuja Fittest challenge and Abuja Strongest Challenge in male and female categories.

Winners in these categories received N40million.

The company’s Group Chief Finance Officer (CFO), Nkiru Chime explained that as a financial organisation, they look for initiatives and avenues to make impact on their teams, clients and the community.

She said: “We partnered Bodyline Fitness and Gym to host its third Annual Event. We found Bodyline to be a reputable potential partner with the same impact goals, on the health scale, and immediately moved to establish the mutually, and communally beneficial partnership, bringing health and wealth together.

“The first Abuja Fit Life hosted by Norrenberger and Bodyline  was a resounding success. We rallied the Abuja fitness and even the non-fitness communities for a day of fun, music, family and fitness. Over 3,000 people showed up in person for the Abuja Fit Life, and out of the exhilarating tournaments, winners emerged.

“As a long-term partnership, we are looking forward to more. We will deliver a bigger fitness festival and announce new ways to reach more people with our joint, timely message that health is wealth. We will help more Nigerians on their way to growing their funds and imbibing a healthy lifestyle,” she added.

She stated that one of the Group’s strategic plan is to deepen financial inclusion.

“We observed that some people don’t have financial management skills to manage their funds hence the need to sensitise and work with them to achieve financial inclusion.

“We cannot tell people how to invest but we can guide them and that is what we are doing with our winners from the Fitlife event”, she said.

One of the winners, Shaibu Shehu appreciated Norrenberger for the opportunity and hoped that the Group would continue and get bigger by sponsoring them to represent the country abroad.