Tag: PTAD

The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has reiterated its commitment to pensioners’ welfare through efficient service delivery.

Its Executive Secretary, Dr Chioma Ejikeme, spoke during the Customer Service Week in Abuja.

Ejikeme, who was represented by the Director of the Civil Service Pension Department, Mr Kabir Yusuf, emphasised the importance of the Week, highlighting its relevance to the PTAD.

She stated that the Directorate prioritises pensioners’ welfare and is working towards provide quality service by simplifying pensioners’ verification, especially those who are unable to do it themselves, adding that their work spans Abuja to Kaduna, Abia, Osun, Delta and beyond.’

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She said: “One of PTAD’s latest innovations, the ‘I Am Alive’ initiative, was designed to ensure that pensioners who are too elderly or physically incapacitated can verify their status without hassle. This groundbreaking initiative leverages technology to ascertain the livelihood of pensioners, making it the first of its kind by any government agency in Africa.

“We have a dedicated team that is tasked with going round to confirm the livelihood of pensioners who cannot do so themselves, either due to age or health challenges. Our goal is to make the process as easy as possible for our pensioners. We have been committed to going above and beyond in our service delivery.’’

She praised the founding fathers of the directorate, stating that they ensured PTAD operates more efficiently than the previous managers of the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS).

She emphasised that the recruitment of competent and dedicated personnel has been central to PTAD’s success in delivering exceptional services that bring smiles to the faces of our pensioners.

 “Customer service in today’s world is about the experience customers have in their engagement with service providers. Pensioners are our customers and we are committed to exceeding their expectations. If we fail to do so, we could easily be told to pack our bags and go home, just like our predecessors. Staff members are trained to possess a deep understanding of their roles, demonstrate empathy towards senior citizens and ensure that services are delivered in the shortest time possible. Waiting can be burdensome, especially for our elderly pensioners. We must ensure we minimise the time they spend seeking services.

“We need to stay abreast of modern trends in customer service delivery. She commended the directorate for its proactive steps in introducing the ‘I Am Alive’ initiative, which uses cutting-edge technology to streamline the pensioners’ verification process. Proactiveness is essential in delivering services to pensioners. We must not only improve but also be forward-thinking to meet their needs swiftly,” Ejikeme added.

She, however, urged PTAD staff members to adopt modern approaches and continuously enhance service delivery, noting that empathy and respect, combined with the latest innovations, would ensure that PTAD remains at the forefront of pension service delivery.

OMOWA: Hello, my name is Omowa from Igarra, Akoko, Edo LGA. Edo State. I have been receiving my monthly pension after verification in 2019, in Benin City by PTAD.

Suddenly, they started underpaying me from October by N27,N27, 262.91. Please, help resolve the issue. Thanks – Omowa Obende

OZEGBE: I am Ozegbe. I did my last ‘i am alive’ confirmation on August 20, 2024, making it thrice. But, surprisingly, nothing was credited into my account last month.

OYELAKIN: My name is Oyelakin. I retired on July 31, 2002. My date of first appointment was December1970. My federal share of pension started from December 2, 1970 and ended on March 31, 1976, spanning five years and five months.

I was placed on payroll in September 2010, leaving my pension arrears of August 2002 to August 2010 unpaid. I made several attempts to get the arrears paid but all to no avail; I even sent my bank statements to authenticate my claim. Kindly help me. Thanks for your concern in this regard.

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ELLIS: Good day, my name is Ellis and my brother Kelvin. We have not been paid since our verification in 2015 by PTAD in Lagos. We are next of kins to police officer Francis. We have not been paid since we were verified in 2015. I have not been told why the delay. When I called, they said they were processing it.

AGBABIAKA: Good day, my name is Agbabiaka. I did my “I Am Alive Confirm Solution”, since May 1, 2023 and I have received my gratuity. It has been a journey of service, dedication and devotion. Why should your institution delay my pension? Please pay my pension.

ADUEMA: Good day, I am Aduema. My mum has a complaint.

Since she retired, she has not been paid her gratuity. But she has been receiving her pension.

Her set of retirees have been paid. She has health issues and cannot move around.

MRS ADEBOWALE: Good day sir, kindly let me know when the verification of the retired primary school teacher will start.

AYODELE: Hello, my complaint is about underpayment of monthly pensions. I wish to put up a reminder that I am yet to get any acknowledgement nor response regarding my complaints to your organization about three weeks ago on the above subject matter. This is after promises by your receptionists to deliver my complaints to the appropriate authority for further necessary actions.

 In October last year, I was surprised to notice a huge deduction of N48,861.19 from my monthly pension of N154,015.36, for an excuse tagged overpayment of pension and which was not earlier communicated to me. From my concise and articulate computations of the deductions yanked, I believe that it was wrong to have carried out such deductions.

By the way, I started working in 1970 and retired from service on August 1, 2005 from Nigerian Institute for Trypanosomiasis Research, Kaduna (NITR), a parastatal under the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, as a Chief Technical Officer Laboratory Instruments, on HATISS 13, Step 9.

As at the time of retirement, my pension was N92,170.75. However, two years later, August, 2007, there was a 15 per cent pension increment that jerked my pension up to N105,996.36. Three years later, which was August, 2010, there was another 33 per cent increment of N34,978.80 that leveraged my pension to N140,975.16. And in April, 2019, there was a consequential pension adjustment of 0.0925 per cent or N13,040.20, which finally brought my current pension to N154,015.36.

But, surprisingly, from October, 2023, I observed with surprise that, a huge chunk of N48,861.19 monthly deductions were made till date from my pensions, with the excuse that, there were some overpayments made all along, which in actual fact is not true from the in depth analysis I have proffered.The pension refund I expect from you as of April 2024 is N342,028.33, which I am believing would be paid this month. These shortfalls have been causing me a whole lot of financial setbacks. I am equally aware that a review committee was set up towards the end of last year by the Executive Secretary, PTAD to tidy these grievances which are not limited to me or my parastatal alone but to several others. Times are pretty hard for even workers not to talk of vulnerable pensioners whose pays are nothing to write home about. At this juncture, I am imploring you to use your good offices to write this wrong, by reversing the status quo and refunds made back as quickly as possible. Thanks and God bless.

THE NATION: The newspaper will intervene by sending your complaint to PTAD. Therefore, Omowa, Ozegbe, Oyelakin, ELLIS, Agbabiaka, Aduema, Mrs Adebowale, Ayodele should watch out for the pension page on Wednesdays for response from PTAD and subsequently every Wednesday for pension news.

DMBIEM: I am DMBIEM, an actuary. I am also a PTAD pensioner. My sample of pension-related circulars 1975-2021 showed two problems. New pension rates were late and pension enhancements were almost always below incumbent. New minimum wage of N70,000, 2024 has been approved. I challenge PTAD to liaise with NISWC to release the New Minimum Wage Circular 2024. Within 14 days, a new pension rate should be circulated. New pension pay in 30 days. Hardships under fuel subsidy removal are tough to endure. PTAD pensioners cannot afford delay in new pensions. Where is N75,000 total palliatives for PTAD Pensioners like me?

MICAH: Good day, my name is Micah. While thanking you for your good work, I wish to still appeal to you to look into my complaint of non-implementation of my level 13 salaries with FRCN where I retired on April 20, 2019 on level 12. The level 13 promotion was after my retirement in April 2019 and was back-dated to January 2019. I have sent you the details which you replied in The Nation of January 18, February 15 and 22 and March 1; all in 2023. My PFA is Premium Pension. I have sent all details to you since January 18, 2023. Kindly assist me. I was a former Principal Marketing Officer staff member.

OLAWUNMI : I am Olawunmi. I retired from the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN ) in December 1996 on Grade Level 14 and was getting my pension until August 2020 when payment was stopped. I did verification in Lagos in July 2023 to restore my pension payment but up till now, I have not heard anything.

PAUL: It is pertinent to note that retired police officers in the PTAD, were notified of the “I AM ALIVE” programme through the website in 2023. I was among those PTAD had text messages to do “I am Alive” confirmation in October, 2024. To this end, I was mandated to do it on 20/10/2024. I got a text again to do my “I’m Alive” confirmation before February 10, 2024. When I contacted some of my colleagues to know whether PTAD had sent such information to them, they said no. With this, I became worried. I revisited the last “I’m ALIVE” confirmation website I did and I was informed that the last done on 20/10/2023 will expire on 20/4/2024. So, I want to know categorically from PTAD what is the time limit for the confirmation. Should it be done instead of someone or a member of the staff calling indiscriminately and sending text messages.

PTAD: Please disregard any text message asking you to verify that you are still alive before the six-month period expires.

Read Also: PTAD: Resolving pensioners’ issues

AKINMUSAYO: Good day, my complaint bothers my father who retired 19 years ago. He is yet to be paid gratuity. His name is and he retired in May 2004 from the Ministry Defence.

PTAD: Good day, your father’s gratuity has been computed and audited.

ODUNTAN: Good day, I am sending this message on behalf of my dad. His pension monthly is over N51,000 but he was paid N37,000 for October. We want to know what went wrong.

PTAD: The Parastatals Pension Department (PaPD) of the Directorate will respond soon.         

SGT BASSEY: I am Sergeant Bassey, I have not received my pension for October. Kindly help me.

PTAD: The Police Pension Department (PPD) has represented all failed payments.

ANNONYMOUS: Good day, I am one of the pensioners that did verification six months ago. I am surprised some people have done it a second time. Please I am alive but up till now no message has been sent to me for the second verification as others have done. Please advise me on what to do.

PTAD: The pensioner is not reachable through the phone.

AKAGBOSU: Good day, my name is Akagbosu. My complaint is about the non-payment of my monthly pension for months. I am the eldest child and next-of-kin to Mrs Akagbosu, the complainant.

She retired as a staff member of NIFOR on March 10, 1994. She received her monthly pension up to October 14, 2016. But after this payment, no money has come in for her till date. She has not received any monthly pension payments due to her, while her colleagues are getting theirs.

She did PTAD verification in Benin City on May 29, 2019. She complained several times at the PTAD Benin City office on various occasions of which she was given a complaint form to fill and attached documents needed, alongside a follow up and do ‘I AM ALIVE’ capturing, all to no avail. This non-payment of her benefits has worsened her condition.

She is battling partial stroke/hypertension and eyesight diseases.

Kindly use your good offices to intercede for her to ensure that she is restored on the payroll and her arrears paid promptly. Thanks for your anticipated response.

ADEGEBO: Good day, I am Dr Adegebo. Thank you for the good job you are doing to help pensioners to get their entitlements.

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I am about 80 years old. I retired in May 2008 on consolidated salary from the Oyo State Civil Service. Duly completed gratuity and pension documents were sent to PTAD before my retirement date to enable it to pay the Federal Government portion of my retirement package.

I was not placed on monthly pension until 27 months after my retirement. Up till now, my gratuity and 27 months of pension arrears are yet to be paid. I have participated in verification at Ibadan by PTAD and on each occasion resubmitted my pension documents including my bank statements. PTAD officials would promise to take action on my outstanding entitlements but PTAD has not paid me. A friend of mine in Abuja visited their office more than six times on my behalf in 2020/2021. PTAD confirmed they were in possession of all my necessary documents and I should expect payment soon. Yet, no payment was made to me. My entitlement has been outstanding since 2008, i.e. 16 years ago. I hope PTAD will rise up to its responsibility and pay my outstanding entitlements.

ADAJI: Dear sir, help me urge PTAD to pay me my gratuity which they informed me through The Nation of Wednesday, June 15, 2022 that my gratuity had been computed for payment. I have waited for the bank account alert but to no avail. I wrote several times to that effect but till date, they have not told me the delay.

Recently, precisely July 11, 2024, I received a call from PTAD, requesting for my account details for the payment of my gratuity which I obeyed. Yet, till date, I have not received a bank alert. I called several times through the line but they refused to pick my calls. I don’t understand the game at all. Please, help me relay my message to PTAD. Thanks for your good work.

 My name is Adaji from Kogi State.

TEMITOPE: My name is Temitope, I was disengaged from Federal Civil Service 2006. My pension administrator is Stanbic IBTC Pension Manager. Since then, my money has not been paid. l need your help.

EBITARI: Good day, my name is Ebitari. I had complained about my benefits which had to be paid.

ANONYMOUS: I am a pensioner from one of the Federal establishment, residing in lbadan, Oyo State. I will like to know where your satelite office at lbadan is. Kindly send me your office address. Thanks.

IRIOGBE: Dear Omobola, my name is Iriogbe, a NIPOST retiree. Information at my disposal is that PTAD is yet to invite NIPOST union and its desk officers to work with the committee to re-compute the issues that arose after the back-end-computation exercise that resulted in the embarrassing deductions from our pension from October 2023 till this moment. I have in the recent past, written to PTAD that many of us are still shocked and devastated over the deductions and reversion to what we were earning as at September 2023 earlier promised when the panel was set up on January 19, 2024. It is important to bring in the NIPOST union and other sectoral unions that have vital documents to submit to the panel to enable it to make informed decisions on this issue. We cannot afford to be disappointed again. Thanks for your good job.

MABAWONKU: My name is Mabawonku, a federal/state pensioner. I worked at the Nigeria Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) from September 14,1982 to July 6,1993. Later, I joined the Lagos State government on July 15, 1993 and retired on January 28, 2008 as a Director. Despite several demands in writing, calls and presence the gratuity has not been paid. I did verification with PTAD at Lagos in 2019. On request, I have sent my verification certificate and bank details from 2008 till date to PTAD. With all the conditions met since 2019, still my gratuity of 11 years and pension arrears of six months (January to July 1993) has not been paid. The Nation, through you (Omobola), should please help me. Thank you.

OJO: I am one of the defunct Heritage Bank customers at Ado Ekiti, who has not paid their pension since May. I sent a message to you with my particulars. Please, I am waiting for your help. Ojo from Ado Ekiti.

BAIYEGUN: PTAD, while appreciating your hard work, and your constant quick action to pensioner’s complaints, please kindly be informed that as of date, I am yet to receive my Federal share of state pension for July 2024. Thanks for your anticipated quick action.

MURITALA: Dear Omobola, thanks so much for solving retirees’ problems. I am Muritala, a former staff member of the National Youth Service Corps. My last monthly payment was September 2020. I have sent my documents several times. Kindly see to the payment of my unpaid monthly dues. I was verified by PTAD on May 30, 2023 and they promise that my cumulative arrears will be paid within three months. My last monthly payment was September 2022. I am alive so PTAD should please pay me.

ANNASTECIA: Good afternoon, madam. My name is Annastecia. I retired from the University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt. My pension was stopped in October 2020 because I was not in the head-count exercise then. However, I have been screened in the Abuja PTAD office, cleared and given pension number as at December 2023. Since then, I have not received any payment. Please, I need your kind intervention.

THE NATION: The newspaper will intervene by sending your complaint to PTAD. Therefore, AKAGBOSU, ADEGEBO, ADAJI, TEMITOPE, EBITARI, ANNONYMOUS, IRIOGBE, MABAWONKU, OJO, BAIYEGUN, MURITALA and ANNASTECIA should watch out for the pension page on Wednesdays for response from PTAD and subsequently every Wednesday for pension news.

What does PTAD stand for?

PTAD is an acronym for Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate.  It is a wholly treasury funded extra-ministerial agency under the Federal Ministry of Finance, responsible for the management of pensions under the old pension scheme (Defined Benefit Scheme-DBS) for pensioners who did not transit to the new Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), which is in effect in Nigeria.

What is the difference between the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS) and Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) ?

The Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS) is the pension scheme that was in effect in Nigeria until 2007 when it was replaced with the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) as stipulated in the Pension Reform Act (PFA) 2004 and 2014.

Under the DBS, the total pension obligation is borne by the government as against the CPS where the accumulated pension at retirement is based on a pension plan in which an employer/employee contributes in varying percentages to build a retirement fund for an individual.

Under the CPS, the pension fund exists from the onset and payments can be made as at when due unlike the DBS which is wholly dependent on government treasury for funding.

Who are the pensioners under PTAD management?

Any federal public sector employee entitled to retirement benefits that retired on or before June 30, 2007 and has worked in any of the pension groups below falls under PTAD management.

Pension Groups (Departments) under PTAD in accordance with Section 43 (3) of the Pension Reform Act are the Civil Service Pension Department (CSPD); Police Pension Department (PPD); Customs, Immigration and Prisons Pension Department (CIPPD); Treasury Funded Parastatals Pension Department (PaPD); and Pension Support Services Department (PSSD)

 What of State Pensioners?

There are also some state pensioners who are entitled to federal share. To be a state pensioner with federal share, a retiree must have been in employment for one of the regions of Nigeria before March 31,1976 and retired before March 31, 2011.

The following public sector employees irrespective of when they retired are, however, NOT under PTAD’S jurisdiction:

The categories of persons mentioned in S. 291 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended are judicial officers of the Supreme Court & Court of Appeal; Members of the Armed Forces; and the intelligence and secret services of the Federation

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Why is verification necessary?

It is necessary for PTAD to carry out verification to ascertain the proof of life and create a credible database of all pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS).

PTAD did not inherit a credible pensioners’ database, there is therefore an urgent need to verify all pensioners under the DBS to enable PTAD resolve their complaints: The verification of pensioners is aimed at the establishment of an accurate, credible, and digitized database of pensioners under DBS and for complaint resolution; Eliminating duplicate payments and ghost pensioners; Regularizing anomalies such as overpayments and underpayments; obtaining relevant work records to ensure accurate computation of pension payment; and Updating the records of the Next-of-Kin (NoK) for payment of death benefit

What documents are needed for verification?

Documents required for verification may vary from one pension group to another.

In the case of Parastatal Pensioners; Letter of First Appointment; Letter of Confirmation; Letter of Last Promotion; Approved Letter of Retirement; Evidence of Change of Name (where applicable}; Evidence of Transfer of Service (where applicable); BVN Registration Slip (stamped and signed by the bank); Original and Stamped Bank Statement for the last one month; Valid means of Identification (Driving License, Int’l Passport, National ID Card or Voters Registration Card). For Due Pensioners, Birth Certificate/Sworn Affidavit of Age is required while Disengaged Retirees are to provide Evidence of Payment of Gratuity/Severance Pay Slip.

In the case of Civil Service Pensioners, documents required are Letter/Gazette of 1st appointment; Letter/Gazette of confirmation of appointment; Letter/Gazette of last Promotion; Letter/Notice of retirement approved by a competent Authority; Severance Pay slip(Disengaged Retirees only); Evidence of change of name (Where applicable); Duly stamped and signed NUBAN Bank statement on the Bank letterhead from period of retirement or date from which complaint was made till date; Computation Sheet duly stamped and signed by the State Auditor (State Pensioners with Federal Share); Birth Certificate/Age Declaration (Due Pensioners only);  coloured Passport Photograph; Approval Letter of Merger/Condonation from Head of service OHCF (For those who merged their service).

For Customs, Immigration and Prisons Pensioners, required documents are Letter/Gazette of 1st appointment; Letter/Gazette of confirmation of appointment; Letter/Gazette of last Promotion; Original Stamped and Signed Bank; Approval Letter of Merger/Condonation of service (Where Applicable); Evidence of Change of Name (Where applicable; Birth Certificate/Age Declaration (Due Pensioners only); Letter/Acceptance of Retirement, Severance Pay Slip(For Downsized Officers); and Identity Card.

In Police Pensioners case, required documents are Letter of Enlistment; Letter of Approval of Retirement; Pension Advice; Letter of Merger of service (for demoted officers); Current Bank Statement; Letter of Identification/Introduction; Letter/Gazette of confirmation; Letter/Gazette of last Promotion; and Identity Card.

ADAJI: Dear madam, my name is Adaji from Kogi State. I wish to request PTAD to pay my gratuity which they informed me through The Nation of June 15, 2022, that it had been computed for payment. I have waited for the money to no avail. I wrote several times to them yet they had not replied me.

Recently ( precisely July 11, 2024), I received a call from PTAD requesting for my account number for payment, which I sent. Yet, till date, I have not received the money. I called several times through the number but they refused to pick my calls. I don’t understand the game at all.

Please, help me relay my message to PTAD. Thanks for your good work.

TEMITOPE: My name is Temitope. I was disengaged from Federal Civil Service 2006. My pension administrator is Stanbic IBTC Pension Manager. Since my disengagement, my entitlement has not been paid. l need your help.

EBITARI: Good day, my name is Ebitari. I complained about my benefits which had not to be paid. I am still expecting the payment.

ANNONMOUS: I am a pensioner from one of Federal establishments, residing in lbadan, Oyo State. I will like to know where your satelite office is in lbadan. Thanks.

IRIOGBE: Dear Omobola, My name is Iriogbe, a NIPOST retiree. Information at my disposal is that PTAD is yet to invite NIPOST union and its desk officers to work with the committee to re-compute the issues that arose after the back-end-computation that resulted in the deductions from our pension from October 2023 till this moment.

I have in the recent past, written to PTAD that many of us are still shocked over the deductions and reversion to what we were earning as at September 2023 earlier promised when the panel was set up on January 19, 2024. It is important to bring in the NIPOST union and other sectoral unions that have vital documents to submit to the panel to enable it to make informed decisions on this issue. We cannot afford to be disappointed again. Thanks for your good job.

MABAWONKU: My name is Mabawonku, a federal/State pensioner. I worked at the Nigeria Educational Research and Development Council (NERDC) from September 14,1982 to July 6, 1993. Thereafter, I joined the Lagos State Government on July 15, 1993 and retired on January 28, 2008 as a Director.

Read Also: PTAD: Resolving pensioners’ issues

Despite several demands in writing, calls and presence, the gratuity has not been paid. I did verification with PTAD at Lagos in 2019. On request, I have sent my verification certificate and bank acoount from 2008 till date to PTAD. With the conditions met since 2019, still my gratuity of 11 years and pension arrears of six months (January to July 1993 ) have not been paid.

The Nation  should please help me. Thank you.

OJO: My dear sister, I am one of Heritage Bank customers at Ado Ekiti. I am one of those who have not paid their pension since May. I sent a message to you with my particulars.

Please, I am waiting for your help.

BAIYEGUN: PTAD, while appreciating your hard work, and your  quick action to pensioner’s complaints, please be informed that as of date, I am yet to receive my Federal share of state pension for July 2024. Thanks for your anticipated quick action.

MURITALA: Dear Omobola, thanks so much for solving retirees’ problems. I am Muritala, a former staff member of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC). My last monthly payment was September 2020. I have sent my documents several times. Kindly see to the payment of my unpaid monthly dues. I was verified by PTAD on May 30, 2023 and they promise that my cumulative arrears will be paid within three months. My last monthly payment was September 2022. PTAD should please pay me.

ANNASTECIA: Good afternoon, madam. My name is Annastecia. I retired from the University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt. My pension was stopped in October 2020 because I was not in the head-count then. However, I have been screened in the Abuja PTAD office, and given pension number as of December 2023. Since then, I have not received any payment. Please, I need your kind intervention.

THE NATION: The newspaper will intervene by sending your complaints to PTAD. Therefore, Adaji, Temitope, Ebitari Annonymous, Iriogbe, Mabawonku, Ojo, Baiyegun, Muritala and Annastecia should watch out for the pension page on Wednesdays for response from PTAD and subsequently every Wednesday for pension news.

ADESIYAN: My name is Adesiyan, I did my Pensioner Identity Verification on January12, 2024, and the outcome was successful as I got a verification number. But, to my surprise, I got another message instructing me to process my I’M ALIVE again yesterday, which I did immediately. The verification outcome is successful too with another verification number. Please, note: The above two verifications were on fingerprint. Thank you.

PTAD: Please disregard any text message asking you to verify that you are still alive before the six-month period expires.

ABUHl: Good day, I am still short paid up till this month. Please help me as you have been helping me,

PTAD: Pensioner is not reachable via phone.

OLUJAFADE: My name is Olujafade, I retired in 1986 on grade level 9 promoted to 10 and advanced to 12 because of my grade 1 academic and diploma University which I did successfully. Promotion from nine to 12 was not implemented before retirement. Kindly correct my arrears and pensions.

PTAD: Pensioner is not reachable via phone.

PAUL: It is pertinent to note that retired police officers in the PTAD, were notified of the “I AM ALIVE” programme through the website in 2023. I was among those PTAD has text messaged to do “I am Alive” confirmation in October 2024. To this end, I was mandated to do it on October 20, 2024. I got a text message again to do my “I’m Alive” confirmation before February 10, 2024. When I contacted some of my colleagues to know whether PTAD had sent such information to them, they said no. With this, I became worried. I revisited the last “I’m ALIVE” confirmation website I did and I was informed that the last done on 20/10/2023 will expire on 20/4/2024. So, I want to know categorically from PTAD what is the time limit for the confirmation. Should it be done instead of someone or a member of the staff calling indiscriminately and sending text messages.

PTAD: Please disregard any text message asking you to verify that you are still alive before the six-month period expires.

AKINMUSAYO: Good day, my complaint bothers my father who retired 19 years ago. He is yet to be paid gratuity. His name is … and he retired in May 2004 from the Ministry Defence.

PTAD: Good day, your father’s gratuity has been computed and audited

ODUNTAN: Good day, I am sending this message on behalf of my dad. His pension monthly is over N51,000 but he was paid N37,000 for October. We want to know what went wrong.

PTAD: The Parastatals Pension Department (PaPD) of the Directorate will respond soon.           

SGT BASSEY: I am Sgt Bassey, I have not received my pension for October. Kindly help me.

PTAD: The Police Pension Department (PPD) has represented failed payments.

ANNONYMOUS: Good day, I am one of the pensioners that did verification six months ago. I am surprised some people have done it a second time. Please I am alive but up till now no message has been sent to me for the second verification as others have done. Please advise me on what to do.

PTAD: The pensioner is not reachable through the phone.

OWEI: Hello, I am a pensioner, NIPOST retiree precisely. I have been getting my stipend all the time but to my utmost surprise in October, 2023, I was short paid N4,000.

PTAD: The Parastatals Pension Department (PAPD) to respond

GODWIN: Good day, my name is Godwin.

 I withdrew from the force on 1/6/95 and I started enjoying pension from February 26, 2002 till September 2023. I have not been paid a pension. I learned that I missed verification. Please, I’m alive. Thanks for your prompt consideration.

PTAD: The pensioner is not reachable through the phone.

ROSEMARIE: I am Rosemarie, my NTA pension from November till date has not been paid. The network has been inconsistent in my locality for months. Kindly help me.

Read Also: PTAD to Fed Mortgage Finance, bank pensioners in Kano, others: go for verification

PTAD: The Parastatals Pension Department (PAPD) is working to resolve complaint

TIMOTHY: My name is Timothy from Oyo State. I want to know what was used to compute my monthly pension since October 1993. I have been on federal share since 1993. Kindly save my poor situation.

PTAD: The pensioner is not reachable through the phone.

CHUKWUDUBRM: Hello, my father Chukwudubem, a retired police man, did not receive his money for October 2023. Please we need assistance from your good office. Thank you

PTAD: The pensioner is not reachable through the phone.

ANONYMOUS:  Good day, I would like to know if my father is eligible for pension under Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS). He was appointed on July 3, 1989 and was removed on April 27, 1999.

PTAD: No name and details provided.

• To be enrolled on payroll soon

Pensioners of the Federal Mortgage Finance Limited and Federal Mortgage Bank participating in the ongoing “I Am Alive”Confirmation Solution verification of the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) have lauded the Directorate on the coordination and smooth process in the geopolitical zones of the country.

The pensioners of Nigeria under the Defined Benefit Scheme expressed their joy during the Phase Three of the verification of pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme that has been ongoing in Lagos and Oyo states since August 19. It ends today.

They are also excited for the respect bestowed on them by PTAD staff members and the Executive Secretary, Dr. Chioma Ejikeme who was present in Lagos.

Vice Chairman, Federal Mortgage Finance Limited and Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria pensioners’ union, Olusoji Akinniran, said since he retired, he had not encountered the kind of respect he received from PTAD.

He stated that  he had not seen a government pension agency offer him water needless to say food.

He said he was pleased to see PTAD offering them tea and giving them food and water during the exercise.

Another pensioner, James Owoeye, noted that the exercise was going on smoothly.

He said: “We come into the venue and we are welcomed by PTAD staff with tea. They give us seats and everybody moves in lines until it is their turn to be verified. We are doing our verification with peace of mind.

Read Also: PTAD to Fed Mortgage Finance, bank pensioners in Kano, others: go for verification

“This is unlike the ‘Maina’ era when government pension administrators demand money from pensioners’ before they are paid their entitlements. Many don’t even get it at the end of all the struggles. But we have PTAD to thank as they have changed pension administration in the country, giving it a decent face where pensioners are treated with respect and dignity,’’ he stated.

A pensioner, Niyi Shonibare, said PTAD is disciplined and urged them to continue in this line.

Mrs. Ngozi Nwomo also appreciated the ES for being on ground to ensure that their challenges were addressed.

“I have watched her patiently listen to every pensioner that walks up to her with one problem or another and resolve the issues,” she said.

Speaking at the just-ended “I Am Alive” confirmation verification in Lagos State and Oyo states, Dr. Ejikeme said the location was meant to capture pensioners in the Southwest.

She stated that they were collecting information of pensioners of the Federal Mortgage Finance Limited and Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria across the country to verify and eventually enroll them on payroll.

She said she had been visiting the designated centers across the country to ensure all went well.

She also said her takeaway was that the responses from pensioners had been good but they expect it to get better as they moved to other regions of the country.

“This because we are expecting to verify 1,400 pensioners, 400 Federal Mortgage Finance Limited and 1,000 of them are supposed to belong to the Federal Mortgage Bank.

“We have been to Ilorin and Abuja where we started the verification. These states cover the Northcentral. We were in Kano and Kaduna which covered the Northwest. When we were in Adamawa for the Northeast and now we are in the Southwest covered by Ibadan and Lagos. We are moving to the Southeast in Enugu and Southsouth in Port Harcourt where we will wrap it up.

“My takeaway is that the response has been good but we expect it to get better as we move to other regions of the country. This is because we are expecting to verify 1,400 pensioners, 400 Federal Mortgage Finance Limited and 1,000 of them are supposed to belong to the Federal Mortgage Bank”.

She pointed out that since inception in 2013, PTAD had opened 11 state offices including that of Kwara State, making it the 12th, in addition to the Abuja headquarters.

“PTAD has offices in Yola, Awka, Maiduguri, Ibadan, Benin, Enugu, Kaduna, Kano, Lagos, Sokoto, Yobe, and Ilorin. The aim of establishing these offices is to bring our exceptional pension services closer to the doorstep of Defined Benefit Scheme pensioners that are being managed by PTAD as mandated in the Pension Reform Act 2014, Section 47 (2).

“You may recall that prior to the establishment of PTAD in August 2013, the DBS Administration under the Old Pension Offices faced challenges. These were an accumulation of a number of negative incidents emanating from administrative bottlenecks in accessing pension services, poor funding of pension liabilities, as well as poor service delivery to pensioners. Our pensioners can certainly attest that those major challenges are now all in the past with the advent of PTAD. In the last decade of operation, PTAD has reformed and revolutionised pension administration using technology.

“We have implemented service innovations that have been proactive and intentional, from automating and streamlining our core operational processes, to digitisation of pensioner’s employment records, electronic computation of pension benefits, pension payments, complaints resolution, the BackEnd computation project, and the “I Am Alive”Confirmation Solution. All these and more are programmes carried out to strengthen and improve PTAD’s operations, eradicate the stress DBS pensioners go through to get their pensions, and ensure that the welfare of our pensioners remains our topmost priority,” she added.