The Nation Newspaper

Tag: Pensioners

  • Pensioners ‘waiting for palliatives’

    Pensioners ‘waiting for palliatives’

    It is the festive period but pensioners are still waiting for the N25,000 wage award from the government. Omobola Tolu-Kusimo reports

    FOR  the over 200,000 federal pensioners in th ecountry, the festive period is bleak. Reason: They are yet to be paid the fuel subsidy palliative approved by President Bola Tinubu.

      The President had on October 4, 2023 ordered a N25,000 wage award to pensioners to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal for them.

    Though the President had also on October 1,2023 Independence Day announced intervention funds of N35,000 as wage award for six months for federal workers, and some workers have started receiving the cash, pensioners are yet to.

    For several weeks, the pensioners have been crying out over their plight.

    Yet, up till date, no pensioner has been paid, provoking speculations that some government officials at the ministry might be plotting to divert the funds meant for the pensioners.

    The pensioners are unhappy with the Minister of Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr. Betta Edu and are set for a showdown with the ministry in January, next year.

    Investigations by the newspaper has showed that the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has on request by the ministry submitted names of  pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS) to the ministry since October.Yet, almost three months after the announcement by the President, no pensioner has been paid.

    The Nation also learnt that the National Pension Commission (PenCom) is unaware of how and when the pensioners will be paid.

    When the newspaper reached out to PTAD and PenCom, both, pension regulators, kept mum.

    The newspaper also reached out to the ministry which debunks speculations that the money has been diverted.

    However, the Special Adviser, Media and Publicity, Mr Rasheed Zubair, said the ministry was still compiling and verifying the pensioners’ list before it could commence payment.

    He said for the avoidance of doubt, a list of 17,077 veterans, and 264,560 pensioners had been submitted to the National Social Safety-Nets Coordinating Office (NASSCO) in the third week of November.

    He, however, added that the process of in-person verification of the list was still ongoing.

    Meanwhile, observers have faulted the ministry on why it has to rely on third party agencies to verify pensioners rather than revert to PenCom and PTAD that have a database of genuine pensioners.

    A source in PTAD said: “We are not responsible for palliative payments to pensioners. All we know is that after the President’s announcement in October, the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation reached out to us, asking for a list of payroll of pensioners and we submitted it to them immediately.

    “So, they have the list of pensioners since October. We don’t know why the pensioners have not got the money. Some pensioners have been bothering us about the palliative thinking we are the agency to pay them. But we have been explaining to them that we don’t have anything to do with the payment.

    “NUP have also reached out to us that we should be the one to make the payment since we have their payroll list but we told them that there is no directive to us to do so. The pensioners are worried that it seems some government officials want to steal the money. We hope not because it will be saddening.

    “If the ministry wants PTAD to pay, they should send the fund to us and if they want to pay, they have the details. But it is worrisome that they have not paid while they have paid workers.”

    In PenCom, no one wanted to speak. A top source was asked: “What is going on with the payment of subsidy removal palliative authorised by the president to be paid to pensioners? We are aware that it’s the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs that is meant to pay, but have they reached out to the commission or carry you along on how they are paying. Did they request for pensioners’ names and account details from the commission?

    The senior official simply responded by saying: “I don’t know.”

    At the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, Zubair said: “The attention of the Minister For Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Dr Betta Edu, has been drawn to a fake news item in the media and public spaces alleging that N25 billion purportedly meant for the retired Military pensioners from the Conditioner Cash Transfer Funds has been given to the Minister of Defence, Muhammed Badaru Abubakar.

    “The public is urged to disregard this report as it is not only fake but a deliberate, malicious and insipid attempt by mischief makers, disgruntled elements and enemies of the Renewed Hope Agenda of the  administration to tarnish the image and integrity of the Minister.

    “For the records, at no time did the Minister for Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation give or contemplate giving funds meant for the pensioners of the retired Military personnel of the Nigerian Armed Forces to Ministers or Ministries.

    “For the avoidance of doubt, 17,077 veterans, and 264,560 pensioners’ list were submitted to National Social Safety-Nets Coordinating Office (NASSCO) in the third week of November and the process of in-person verification of the names submitted by the Nigerian Legion and the pensioners group is still ongoing.

    “Similarly, the office responsible for the verification of the register under the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation is doing a painstaking job of working with the World Bank.

    “All the captured retired veterans who meet the criteria and pensioners will be paid once the rigorous verification exercise is completed.

    “The public, especially the media, is hereby informed by this release that the ministry has not released or planned to release any money meant for the Renewed Hope Cash Transfer to any individual or group.

    “In line with the directive of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, funds upon confirmation of the beneficiaries’details, are to be sent directly to them through their bank accounts and is verifiable.

    “The good intention of Mr President to expand the National Social Register and commence payment of the N25,000 for three months to accommodate the veterans of the Nigerian Armed Forces, which is a novel idea and the first of its kind in the history of Nigeria, should be appreciated by Nigerians and not allow themselves to be distracted or misinformed by naysayers,” he added.

    NUP troubled

    The NUP is distressed that pensioners are yet to be paid palliative by the ministry.

    NUP President, Pa Godwin Abumusi said he had not been paid neither did he know any pensioner that had been paid.

    “I don’t know what is happening to our palliative. The government promised to pay a palliative of N25,000 to pensioners but up till date, we have not received any money.

    “I have not gotten it and I do not know any pensioner that has gotten it. We don’t know what is happening. Nobody is talking to us; so, we are confused,’” he added.

    Read Also: Emulate Chinese approach in tackling Japa syndrome, US group tells FG

    He stated that the ministry asked them to submit their biodata which they had done. 

    “They later ask us to submit other documents but we told them that the documents pertaining to our pension are in the hands of those who pay our pensions, which are PTAD and PenCom. We told them that instead of asking us to go and collect the data by ourselves, they should order the various agencies to give it to them.

    “We have suggested to the ministry that if the palliative is going to be paid through our pensions’ regulators, then it should be paid by PTAD because they have our database. PTAD is the only agency paying pension and if they have any money to give us, PTAD is best agency to route it through. There is no other way to pay us. The same goes for pensioners under PenCom

    Abumusi further stressed that the ministry is responsible to provide the funds that will be used to pay us. They negotiated it, but it has not been paid.

    The NUP president said they would engage  state and the Federal Governments if they had not paid our palliative. 

    “I have on record that it is only Imo State that is getting rice but I’m not aware that any state government has paid the N25,000 proposed by the Federal Government as the monetary palliative for pensioners. I’m not aware that any state government has commenced payment.

    “If they are not up to any mischief, why would they say data should be submitted by individual pensioners when PTAD exists. But we are watching,”he said.

    He called on President Tinubu to intervene and ensure the ministry carries out the mandate given to them.

    Embattled pensioners

    Chairman, Contributory Pensioners Union of Nigeria (CPUN), Comrade Mathew Shittu, said his members numbering thousands had not received any palliative.

    He hoped that the national cake syndrome, which government officials take pension money for, would not apply to the funds meant for the palliative.

    “I am troubled. If the money is diverted, the agencies responsible for paying will be in trouble. We will not leave any stone unturned in ensuring that they bring back the money and pay us.

    “Our members are suffering going by the tough economy, just like many Nigerians. The fuel subsidy removal has made prices of food in the market to skyrocket. The fuel itself is not affordable for an average pensioner. 

    “I believe that no reasonable person will refuse to pay pensioners and poor people. Nobody can play any game with this palliative because we will take action on why they are not paying pensioners despite paying workers.

    A pensioner under PTAD, Inspector Raphael Ndiema (rtd) said: “I want to know why N25,000 authorised by the president to be paid to Federal Government’s pensioners is yet to be paid while workers are already receiving the N35,000 declared for them. Did we not serve the country?

    Another pensioner under PenCom, Haruna Mohammed asked: “Is there any palliative for Federal Government’s retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme?

    Akeredolu said: “We have not heard of the plan and payments for palliative for pensioners on the increment for federal civil servants.’’

  • Pensioners lament low pension income

    Pensioners lament low pension income

    • By Demilade Adebesin

    Pensioners are lamenting the low pension income paid to them, findings by The Nation has shown.

    Some of the pensioners who spoke with the newspaper complained that there has been no pension increase ever since they retired.

    Although they said the pension monthly income is consistent, they want the Federal Government to increase it.

    One of them, a retiree from a secondary school, Mr Oluwole Akintola, praised the government on the regular payment of his pension.

    He, however, complained that his pension is still the same ever since he retired and that there is a wide gap between the old pension scheme retirees and the new scheme retirees.

    A retired nurse, Abosede Adeberin, also praised the government on the regular payment of her pension income.

     She complained that her pension is not encouraging for the current economic situation of the country and appealed to the government to increase it.

    Read Also: NLC faction asks unpaid Imo workers, pensioners to submit details

    A school principal who retired in 2010, Solomon Adebesin on his part complained that his pension payment has been irregular.

    He said his pension used to be paid on the 6th to 10th of the month but has been changed to the end of the month.

    He also said that his pension is too small in relation to those who retired after him.

     He urged goverment to implement consequential adjustment to his pension income.

    A retired Assistant Head-teacher, Elizabeth Alabi also complained on the low pension income she receives monthly from government.

     She also wants the government to increase her pension so that it can be favourable going by the current economic situation of the county.

  • Pensioners decry withdrawal of police, civil servants from scheme

    Pensioners decry withdrawal of police, civil servants from scheme

    Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) pensioners have described the withdrawal of top civil servants, police and other paramilitary personnel from the scheme as a wicked precedent.

    National Chairman, Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Contributory Pension Scheme (NUPCPS), Sylva Nwaiwu, said this in Ilorin at the inauguration of Kwara State chapter of the union.

    He said: “The top hierarchies of the civil servants, police and paramilitary, who convinced government to buy into contributory pension scheme and reverted to the old defined benefit scheme in 2004, have wittingly removed themselves from the scheme. 

    Read Also: PTAD: Resolving pensioners’ issues

    “This is a bad and wicked precedent. Today, rather than seeking ways to correct the anomalies in the CPS, groups of workers are threatening to opt out of the scheme.”

    Kwara State Chairman of NUPCPS, Rev Henry Omotosho, appealed to the Federal Government to pay their 15 per cent and 33 per cent pension increase entitlements of 2007 and 2010, to save them from untimely death.

    He also asked government to pay consequential adjustment of pensions to reflect the country’s current review of the national minimum wage with effect from 2019. Omotosho said their counterparts under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS) had since enjoyed the payment of reviewed minimum wage.

    He added: “It is most disheartening to hear that we have some pensioners earning between N3,000 and 5,000 per month in our modern Nigeria. It is hoped the Federal Government will respond to our aspirations without delay.”

  • Pensioners plead for N25,000 palliative extension to six months

    Pensioners plead for N25,000 palliative extension to six months

    Pensioners have urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to extend the N25,000 palliative awarded to them from three to six months.

    Speaking under the aegis of the National Association of Nigerian Pensioners (NANP), the former federal public service and parastatal employees noted that those currently in service would be paid N35,000 for six months.

    In a statement by NANP President Greg Chi-Chi and General Secretary Femi Adebayo, the pensioners pleaded to be paid the palliatives for six months as well.

    “We are very passionately appealing to your Excellency, in the interest of fairness and equity, to compassionately extend the period of the payment of palliative of the N25,000 per month award to us to six months, as was done for the workers in the federal public service, including the federal parastatals,” they stated.

    NANP praised President Tinubu on his economic policies, urging him to sustain them.

    The statement added: “We also commend you for the very bold steps you have so far taken to reposition our national economy through the removal of the very unsustainable fuel subsidy and the floatation of the naira in the foreign exchange market.

    “Sir, undoubtedly, all these bold measures have inevitably come with great pains to the generality of Nigerians at this moment through an astronomical rise in the cost of living, which has inflicted great hardship to many Nigerians, especially those of us who are now pensioners and senior citizens of this country.”

    Read Also: OPADEJI: I thank you for your humanitarian work for pensioners.

    “As elderly people now, we are naturally confronted with some basic life challenges, particularly our ailing health problems and the present rising cost of medicare have further worsened our problem.

    “We are quite aware that these pains are temporary and that later the country and her citizens will eventually reap the benefits of the current measures, but in the meantime, the suffering and hardship persist.

    “Sir, it is in this connection that we are specially commending you for having now approved some palliative measures for both the workers and the pensioners in the Federal Public Service, including the parastatals, as an interim measure, before the general salary and pension review are effected, hopefully, by early next year.

    “According to what has been approved, while those currently in service will be paid N35,000.00 for six months, we, pensioners in the federal public service and parastatals, were only granted a N25,000.00 monthly pension award for only three months.

    “While appreciating what you have done for us, with due respect, Sir, that was not fair enough to us as the grant or award should have been for a uniform duration of six months for both groups.”

  • OPADEJI: I thank you for your humanitarian work for pensioners.

    My name is Opadeji. I retired from NITEL on January 21, 2001 on grade level 14 as senior manager. I participated in the NITEL verification in 2001 and PTAD verification in 2005 respectively. In 2005, when I was going for pensioners verification exercise, my documents were missing and I sworn to an affidavit on the loss of the documents. On the basis of the loss, PTAD placed me on grade level 9 and I sent complaint emails to PTAD several times but no action was taken on my complaint email. I therefore took the risk of traveling to Abuja PTAD office when the original copy of letter of promotion was delivered to me by a good Samaritan. My salary was subsequently readjusted to grade level 14 but less than my salary before the verification exercise and also far less than the pension being paid to my colleagues on the same GL 14. Therefore, I sent many complaint emails but returned undelivered perhaps my emails have been blocked. Since then, I have accepted my fate. Now that I have the opportunity to forward my complaint through you to PTAD, I shall be grateful if my complaint can be treated with utmost concern. Thank you.

    Read Also: Zenith Bank’s Q3 profit hits N505 billion

    PTAD: Pensioner is on Payroll. Pensioner’s grade level readjusted from grade level 9 to 14 steps 10. He should provide Bank Statement from January 2018 to date for reconciliation.

  • Pensioners are to benefit from Conditional Cash Transfer

    Pensioners are to benefit from Conditional Cash Transfer

    • Stories by Omobola Tolu-Kusimo and Demilade Adebesin

    The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) and  Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) has said pensioners are part of the groups  that will benefit from the N25,000 Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) programme.

    The Director, Civil Service Pension Department (CSPD, Mr Sulayman Shelleng, broke the news  during an interactive engagement with stakeholders.

     They included the National Pension Commission (PENCOM), Pension Union Executives and Pension Desk Officers of the Parastatals Pension Department.

    Read Also: Moniepoint promises to drive financial inclusion in Nigeria

    Shelleng stated that the CCT is part of the poverty alleviation programme of the Federal Government to support  vulnerable groups.

     He explained that PTAD, in collaboration with the NUP, ensured that the data of DBS pensioners who had been verified and are on the payroll, has been  submitted to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, through the NUP.

    The NUP Representative, Mr Gadzama Gadzali, confirmed receipt of pensioners data and further clarified that the transfer WAS being handled by the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.

  • State govts owe pensioners N1tr

    State govts owe pensioners N1tr

    State governments are owing pensioners benefits and gratuities of about N1 trillion.

    A review by The Nation indicated that despite the Pension Reform Act (PRA) 2004, repealed by PRA 2014 that led to the establishment and commencement of Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) for all workers in 2007, successive governors have failed to fully embrace the CPS.

    While the 25 states are at various stages of implementation of the scheme, some are still in disarray. Six states were at the bill stage while another six have laws on the Contributory Defined Benefits Scheme (CDBS). Also, 16 states have established pension bureaux or boards, and 11 are remitting employer and employee pension contributions in line with the CPS.

    States that are yet to join the scheme are Bayelsa, Kogi, Abia, Taraba, Imo, Sokoto, Ebonyi, Oyo and Bauchi.

    While states like Lagos, FCT, Osun, Kaduna, Ekiti, Edo and Ondo have fully implemented the scheme.

    Industry estimates indicated that total pension and gratuity arrears by states stand at about N1 trillion.

    Analysts have criticised the politicisation of pension payments, decrying the frequent attempts by governors to portray pensions as favours rather than earned dues of the pensioners.

    However, pension and labour unions have also not been helpful in ensuring that pensions in states are streamlined through CPS. Many times, they have blocked workers and retirees from migrating into the scheme.

    The National Pension Commission (Pencom) has been unable to compel states to join the CPS because pension is on concurrent list, so Federal and state governments have powers to legislate as they deem fit.

    Thus, PenCom is left with only moral suasion to encourage states to join the CPS or fully implement the scheme.

    Section 2(1) of the PRA 2014 made the provisions of the Pension Act applicable to any employment in the public service of the federation, the Federal Capital Territory, the states and local government councils as well as the private sector.

    Explaining why the states have taken long to fully implement the Scheme, Director-General, National Pension Commission (PenCom), Mrs. Aisha Dahir said one of the key intents of the Pension Reform Act 2014 was to ensure the domestication of the CPS at the sub-national level in Nigeria as enshrined in Section 2(1) of the PRA 2014.

    In an interview with The Nation, Mrs Umar-Dahir, stated that by virtue of the provisions of Section 210 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 (as amended), the right of a person in the public service of a state to receive pension or gratuity shall be regulated by law. This, therefore, implies that federating units were at liberty to legislate on the domestication of the CPS within their various jurisdictions.

    Besides, she said the commission’s regulatory oversight of states and local governments’ pension schemes is guided by the provisions of the enabling laws in the states.

    Read Also: PTAD: Resolving pensioners’ issues

    She said: “Section 23(h) of the PRA 2014 clearly emphasised that the Commission’s role with regards to the application of the CPS at the states and local governments’ levels shall be to promote and offer technical assistance to states in line with the objectives of the scheme.

    “It would, therefore, be contrary to constitutional provisions for the commission to enforce the provisions of the PRA 2014 on the states without recourse to the extant laws and prevailing economic limitations of the states at every material point in time.

    “There is a positive correlation between performance of states under the Defined Benefits Scheme and the adoption of the CPS by states. Most states that were doing well in the payment of retirement benefits under the Defined Benefits Scheme were more favourably disposed to adopting the CPS and are doing better in its implementation than those who were not.”

    She noted that as a result of the constitutional limitations on the commission, the commission has continued to adopt the persuasive approach  in driving the full implementation of the scheme at the states and local governments’ levels.

    She, however, said as a mechanism of encouraging sub-national governments to adopt the contributory scheme, the scheme has also banned Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) from investing in the bonds of states yet to comply with the scheme.

    Southwest zone of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) has lamented over the non-payment of pensions and gratuities by governors of the region, saying the governors owe the zone about N300 billion.

    The pensioners’ body frowned at the attitude of the southwest governors to their plight while also decrying the sufferings, anguish, and mass death of pensioners.

    Zonal Public Relation Officer and Oyo State Secretary, Comrade Olusegun Abatan, decried the continuing neglect of pensioners by the governors.

    “The condition of pensioners in the Southwest still remains the same with unpaid gratuities. Many of these states in the southwest owe pensioners since 2012 and 2013. Pensioners are being owed between N68 and N78 billion.

    “Ogun State owe N68 billion, Ondo State N78 billion, Ekiti State N38 billion and Osun N58 billion. Lagos is almost free of indebtedness because it has entered into the Contributory Pension Scheme. We discovered that to liquidate, for example, N68 billion, it will take that government 34 years. And this brings to the fore the core labour centres, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC) as well as the Joint Negotiating Council (JNC) to have a common understanding with the Nigeria Union of Pension.

    “What we are saying is that NLC and TUC should take the matters of pensioners as a matter of urgency and, if possible, they should declare trade dispute with state governments that are owing pensioners huge amount of money. NLC and TUC have not been taken along during negotiations on matters of pensioners. So, we are urging them to do that. By doing that, they are laying on the bed they are going to sleep because they will become pensioners tomorrow. It is in their interest to take the matter of pensioners seriously,” Abatan said.

    In the same vein, retirees in Rivers State who retired from the state civil service also protested the non-payment of their benefits.

    Rivers State NLC Chairperson, Mrs. Beatrice Itubo, said the state government has refused to pay their gratuities, pension’s arrears, and other workers’ benefits.

    “Retirees have continued to die in dozens, without the government showing any concern or empathy. It is shameful, to say the least, that a government that prides itself as a responsible government will allow people who devoted the better part of their lives to working for the state to turn to fast and prayers in public before realising that these people need the little benefit to stay alive longer.

    “If you go to the pension union and see the number of obituaries there, you will really weep for the pensioners,” Itubo said.

    In Akwa Ibom State, pensioners who were primary school teachers and the next-of-kin of deceased teachers in Akwa Ibom State protested the non-payment of their pensions.

    The leader of widows and next-of-kin of deceased teachers in the state, Mr Benjamin Benson, said it was the responsibility of the local government to pay but it had no access to the fund because the state government managed it.

    Executive Director, Centre For Pension Right Advocacy, Ivor Takor, said the framers of the Federal Republic of Nigeria 1999 Constitution as amended, taking into consideration the important roles public servants play in the administration of the state, guaranteed their pension to enable them leave a life in retirement, that is closer to what they were used to, during their active service.

    “Nigeria in 2004 carried out a comprehensive reform of its pension schemes, with the promulgation of Pension Reform Act 2004, which as repealed by and replaced with the Pension Reform Act 2014, effective on July 1, 2014. The Act established a Contributory Pension Scheme for employees’ in the Public Service of the Federation, Federal Capital Territory and the private sector. Employees of the Public Service of states and local governments were excluded from the coverage of the Act because governors opposed their inclusion on the grounds that pension is not one of the items that is in the exclusive legislative list of the Constitution.

    “In 2006 or thereabouts, the National Council of State decided that every state should enact its own pension law, adopting the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), already in operation in the federal public service and the private sector, using a draft Bill presented the Council for that purpose by the National Pension Commission (PenCom).

    “The decision of the Council was based on the fact that the Pension Act 1990, which was of universal application in the public services of the federation, states and local governments had been repealed by Section 99(1)(a) of the Pension Reform Act 2004, leaving states public servants with no law guaranteeing their pension, contrary to the provision of section210(1) of the constitution,” Takor said.

    He called on state governors to priotise pensioner’s right to pension noting that over 20 states have enacted laws for the payment of pension and other benefits for former governors and their deputies.

    He lamented a situation where the governors are quick to cater to their own needs but pensioners are languishing in abject poverty and destitution with others dying as a result of the non-payment of their pension and gratuities, despite the constitutional guarantee of their pension.

    “In some states, pensions are being owed for upward of 35 months. The backlog of gratuities is almost a forgotten case, while death benefits payable to next-of-kin of deceased public servants is not being mentioned.

    “Nothing so far exposes the way and manner state governors choose and pick which provisions of the constitution they should obey or disobey; showcase their lack of ethics and morality in governance as the pension rights of states’ public servants vis-à-vis pension and other benefits for former governors and deputy governors. The irony of the whole situation is that some of the immediate past governors and deputies who failed to pay pension or owning pension before they left offices are looking forward to benefit from the pension laws for governors and their deputies, either put in place by them or their predecessors. In their self-righteous defense on the legality of pension laws for former governors and their deputies, they are quick to point out that the constitution guarantees their right to pension,” Takor said.

  • FG to give N25,000 grant to vulnerable pensioners

    FG to give N25,000 grant to vulnerable pensioners

    The Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation has disclosed plans to commence the distribution of N25,000 grants to vulnerable pensioners across the country.

    The distribution of the grant which will begin in November will be given to members of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners captured in the expanded National Social Register of the Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) scheme.

    The Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu announced this when she met with the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) led by president Joe Ajaero in Abuja.

    Edu explained that the decision to include vulnerable pensioners in the CCT scheme shows President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to labour leaders which he will deliver on.

    This is contained in a statement in Abuja on Thursday by the Media Aide to the minister, Rasheed Zubair.

    The minister said: “The President mentioned very clearly that vulnerable pensioners should be immediately captured on the National Social Register and benefit from the Conditional Cash Transfer, as part of the national social safety net expansion and this was made clear in his speech on Independence day where he committed N25,000  for 15million households for three months”

    Read Also: Palliatives: Whither military pensioners?

    She urged the NLC to help fast-track the process of collating data of would-be vulnerable pensioner beneficiaries so that they can start receiving the grant.

    Edu stated: “I want us to fast-track this. If we can get this data and information within two weeks, we are sure that you will be beneficiaries immediately and you can start earning from next month which is November, that’s the main reason why I’m here.”

    She commended Ajaero for being a team player, saying the task of moving Nigeria forward was a collective one and urged him to continue to have faith in the federal government under President Tinubu.

    Responding, Ajaero expressed delight at the various poverty alleviation schemes rolled out by the Ministry and the commitment of the minister.

    He, however, noted that getting to the root cause of poverty would go a long way in addressing the problem.

    He said: “Let’s look at not only how to solve this problem, but the cause of it, if we continue to treat the effects of poverty, the problem will persist. Let us look at other social welfare interventions and job creation that will go a long way to support families.”

    Ajaero urged the federal government to create more jobs by creating a productive economy where factories are functioning and employing workers.

    The president of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Godwin Abumisi  lauded President Tinubu and the Minister for finding the retirees worthy of the federal government’s benefit.

    He revealed that some pensioners receive between N5,000 to N10,000 monthly.

    Abumisi while describing N25,000 grant as ‘big money to them’, thanked the minister for her exceptional performance.

  • Pensioners embrace ‘I Am Alive’ verification

    Pensioners embrace ‘I Am Alive’ verification

    Pensioners under the Defined Pension Scheme (DBS) are using to the ‘I Am Alive’ Confirmation (IAAC) Solution app, the new Acting Executive Secretary, Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), Mr. Sulayman Shelleng, has said.

      The IAAC is an online application designed to enable pensioners confirm their aliveness using either a smartphone or a computer system from their homes or neighbourhood. 

    He said since the introduction and full roll out of the solution on April 14, this year, the Directorate has been working to ensure a seamless process.

    He called on pensioners from the Civil Service Pension, Police Pension, Customs, Immigration and Prisons Pension, and Parastatals Pension to take advantage of the app and confirm.

    He maintained that the objective of the past verification was to ascertain the eligible pensioners,  enrol those who were not on their payroll and  remove them.

    He said the Directorate discovered that physical verifications were not only expensive for the pensioners and government but also a stressful for the senior citizens.

    Read AlsoPTAD: Resolving pensioners’ issues

    He said: “Following the launch in 2021, PTAD began with the Pilot Phase, where the application was tested with 50,000 randomly-selected pensioners across the four operational departments and six geo-political zones. The aim was to test its efficacy and user-friendliness, bearing in mind that this novel initiative is meant for our senior citizens.

    “The journey to test and provide this solution has taken PTAD over 18 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 continue to have  positive impact on our DBS Pensioners as well as PTAD and the Government.”

    He assured pensioners that the solution had been designed with their utmost welfare in mind leveraging  accuracy, reliability, user-friendliness and convenience. 

    He said PTAD has over the years promised that the era of bringing out the aged for field verification was over.

    “The IAAC Solution is available to   verified pensioners across the four Pension Departments. It is simple and easy to use, and we have provided a short video for instructions.

    “The application can be accessed using a smart mobile phone, a 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 and used for receiving pension, and the pensioner’s number on the Verification Acknowledgement Slip are required. PTAD does not need your BVN, ATM Card number or PIN to process the ‘I Am Alive’ Confirmation (IAAC) Solution. Please 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,” he added.

  • Why we are happy with Obaseki, by pensioners

    Pensioners in Edo State have said they are happy with Governor Godwin Obaseki because he has been addressing their needs.

    The pensioners proved their happiness when they wore white to the May Day rally, unlike in the last four years when they appeared in black.

    Chairman of Nigeria Union of Pensioners Mr. Egbon Osamwonyi said all the promises made to them last year were being fulfilled.

    According to him, they wore white to the May Day rally to thank Obaseki and tell the world they are now happy.

    He said: “Our issues are being looked into. Many of our members have been paid and others have been captured. The governor is living up to his promise. He has done what many others could not do.”