Tag: PTAD

ADESIYAN: My name is Adesiyan. I did my verification in December 2023 and the outcome was successful. I was issued a number.

  But to my surprise I got another message instructing me to process my’ I’M ALIVE’ again, which I did immediately. The verification outcome on January 31, 2024 was successful. Thank you.

ABUH: Good day, I am still being underpaid. Please, help me.

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 university diploma, which I did successfully.

But my promotion from 9 to 12 was not implemented before retirement.

Kindly correct and pay my arrears in gratuity and pensions.

IRIOGBE: I retired from NIPOST on February 28, 2007 as Chief Investigation Officer on  grade level 14, step 11.

I was on monthly salary of N77,202 and after enjoying salary increases in 2010, 2011, 2007. But  due to alledged overpayments in my pension, there was a deduction of N23,543.52 from my October 2023 pension.

 At the moment, my monthly pension is N72,203.07. This is  notfunny. I read in your report that PTAD has  set up a committee to look into the matter.  Hope to see a good report soon.

ONIPEDE: Hello, I am Onipede, a NIPOST retiree. I was surprised to see the deduction by PTAD on my October 2023 pension instead of putting the NIPOST retiree on the correct payment schedule for parastatal.

In 2019, we attended a verification, which had no effect on our monthly pension.

Also, in 2019, the Federal Government’s made a consequential adjustment in pension arising from the implementation of national minimum wage from April 18, 2019. But it has not been effected.

Meanwhile, NIPOST retirees are having a peculiar issue which affects what we received as gratuity and monthly pension – this was grievous on us.

In conclusion, I want to know, first of all, what PTAD has done on the short payment arising from our gratuity and monthly pension payment, since it was confirmed that we retired in February 2007 with payslips as a prove.

Secondly, why has PTAD refused to implement the correct monthly pension as parastatal retiree?

Thirdly, what was the cause of the recent deduction from October 2023, which was done indiscriminately because it made my junior receive more than me. There is also disparity on same grade level officers?

RTD ASSISTANT SUP. ESSIEN: It is pertinent to know the time retired police officers under PTAD are required to carry out ‘I AM ALIVE’ confirmation. I was among those who received text messages from PTAD to do ‘I am Alive’ confirmation in October 2023. I was mandated to do it on October 20, 2023.

I received another text message to do my confirmation before  February 10, 2024. When I contacted some of my colleagues to know whether PTAD sent such information to them, they said no.

Since then, I have become restless. I want to know from PTAD  the time limit for ‘I’AM ALIVE’ confirmation instead of someone or a member of the staff calling or sending SMS indiscriminately.

ANIMASAUN: This is to thank The Nation management for the good job you have been doing in solving pensioners’ complaints.

My name is Animasaun. I retired from the Centre for Management Development (CMD) in December 1996 on a grade level 14 (USS13).

Since then, CMD has been paying my pension until 2017 when PTAD took over along with other  retirees.

In October 2023, PTAD reduced my pension by almost 40 per cent without any explanation. I complained to my former organisation about this. Its Pension Desk Officer contacted PTAD about this.

 She was told to tell the affected pensioners to contact Mr Yusuf of PTAD on telephone number 08025011634 for assistance.

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I contacted Mr Yusuf. He asked me to wait for a letter that explains the reasons and the computation leading to pension reduction before I make any complaints. I waited till almost the end of November, there was no letter from PTAD.

Later, I learnt that PTAD has asked the affected pensioners to visit any o their office in their state to collect the letter. I went to PTAD office at Tafawa Balewa  Square, Lagos for my letter.

 Unfortunately, the officer in-charge told me that he was not aware of such a letter.

However, he put a call to Mr Kabiru in PTAD Abuja about the letter. To my surprise, Mr Yusuf replied that PTAD had not written any letter to the affected pensioners on the matter. This is contrary to what the Executive Secretary of PTAD  told members of one pension union that most of the letters dispatched to the affected pensioners were returned.

My request is: I want The Nation to help me so that PTAD can send the letter that gives a breakdown of the computation that led to my  pension being reduced by almost 40 per cent.

The letter can be sent to PTAD’s office in Lagos for me to collect or to my address.

AKINMUSAYO: I am complaining on behalf of my father who retired 19 years ago from the Ministry of Defense but is yet to get gratuity.

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. Despite several demands in writing, calls and physical presence the gratuity has not been paid. I did physical 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 6 months ( January to July 1993 ) has not been paid. I call on The Nation newspaper through you ( Omobola) to please help me. Thank you.

THE NATION: The Newspaper will intervene by sending your complaint to PTAD. Watch out for the pension page on Wednesdays for your response and subsequently every Wednesday for pension news.

• Minister hails on DBS’ pension administration

The Ministry of Interior and Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) are  to collaborate on data integration to  ensure seamless operations with the Nigeria Immigration Service (NIS).

PTAD Executive Secretary, Dr Chioma Ejikeme, made this known after a visit by the management staff members to the Ministry.

Minister of Interior, Dr. Olubunmi Tunji-Ojo assured that the ministry would collaborate with the Directorate, especially in data integration.

He stated that integration would enable a seamless digital handshake between PTAD and the NIS to make sure that pensioners in the diaspora who could not come back to Nigeria due to age can be verified.

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Commending PTAD for the administration of Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS), Tunji-Ojo acknowledged that the Ministry and Directorate are partners with a big role in actualising the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.

He said they needed to work together to make services easy for pensioners.

Earlier, the Executive Secretary gave an overview of the categories of pensioners under PTAD mandate; challenges and successes of the Directorate, as well as the “I Am Alive” confirmation (IAAC).

She further explained that when PTAD was established, it inherited invalidated pension payrolls which led to the start of pensioner verifications in 2015 to validate and build a credible database of former Federal Government workers.

She said pensioners, who are in the diaspora and are unable to return to Nigeria due to age or ill-health, were yet to be validated and their biometrics captured by PTAD.

She appealed for collaboration with the Minister and his team on verification of DBS pensioners in the diaspora to ensure they could confirm that they are aliveness and continue to receive their pension entitlements.

SUNDAY: Good day, my name is Sunday from Cross River State.

  My father died on July 10, 2005 while in Police Service. He is the late Inspector Okimba. His last place of service is Akwa Ibom State.

  I went on to process his entitlement as his next-of-kin in 2015 at the PTAD Office, Abuja, where I was verified, captured and given a pensioner number. But up till date, I have not been paid.

   Kindly help me.

PTAD: There was incomplete documentation during verification. NOK is requested to come forward with these documents Enlistment form, Emolument form, Letter of Administration, Marriage Certificate, Introduction Letter from Last Command, Valid Means of Identification, NoK’s Birth Certification, and NoK’s BVN.

ABDULLAHI: I am Abdullahi from Jos Plateau State. My father was a staff member with the Ministry of Defence, Civilian Unit for 16 years before he died in 1995.

I have attended various screening and verification sessions and the last one was in Jos in 2017.

I have submitted the required documents for the payment of gratuity and pension benefits as a Next-of-Kin (NoK), but up to no avail.

In 2020, I was called from PTAD to submit some documents, including bank account details which I did.

From your publication of my case, PTAD is asking for my verification number which I scanned and sent since then.

I hope Omobola will follow up for me.

PTAD: NOK should provide the deceased’s name and bank statement.

OJEDIRAN: My name is Sergeant Ojediran (rtd). I retired in 1994.

I learn that PTAD has harmonised the pension allowance of IGPs, DIGs, and AIGs without doing same for CPs and the rank and file.

Please, what is the correct position on this? Thanks.

PTAD: The Directorate is yet to receive any directive on the harmonisation from the relevant authority.

TIMOTHY: My name is Timothy from Oyo State. I have been on state and federal pension since October 25, 1993.

I attended many verifications without asking for computation sheet, which I have made efforts to get from the Ministry of Establishment, Ibadan. 

At the last mop up, I submitted  documents but I was not cleared because of the computation sheet.

My monthly federal pension of N2,511.57 has been stopped since 2019 or thereabout.

For God’s sake, pay my due because ’I am ALIVE’ .

PTAD: We are unable to verify him as he doesn’t have a computation sheet and it is a requirement for SWFS pensioners. He should provide his computation sheet.

ADEWALE: Good day, my name is Adewale, a cyber cafe operator in Ado Ekiti, the Ekiti State capital.

Many retiree come to my business for ‘I am Alive verification. Many are successful but some were not after about five attempts to take their picture before it locks.

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The finger verification is not working. Kindly help me to know how to go about the finger verification. Thank you.

PTAD: We have contacted Mr. Adewale directly.  

SAMPSON: Good Day, my name is Sampson. I am one of the  officers of Customs who was retired in 2007. We were under Customs, Immigration and Prison Pension Office (CIPPO) before PTAD took over.

Before the takeover, I had pension arrears from 2007 to 2009 with CIPPO as was paid to my colleagues of equivalent ranks of level 09 step 13.

Also, my CONPASS arrears of gratuity, amounting to N 1,582,182.36, were not paid to me as was paid to my colleagues.

The arrears was prepared along with others and sent to AGF office (Deputy Director, Special Duties), whose duty it was to pay.

PTAD: Mr. Sampson has been contacted directly. He is to send his bank statement for the period for resolution of the complaint.

CLIFFORD: My name is Clifford. I have no pension number. I would like to know if I qualify for pension at 60 in 2005.

I worked at RBNL (UAC Div) 1975-1978 and SCOA Motors (1978-1988).

PTAD: UAC, SCOA Motors are private sector organisations. Mr. Fawehinmi should direct his question to the management of the organisations.

RTD INSPECTOR RAPHAEL: Good day, I want to know if federal pensioners are included in the N35,000 promised by President Bola Tinubu to Federal Government workers?

If so, why are the states paying their pensioners? Are we not Nigerians that served this country? Please let me know?

PTAD: This enquiry should be directed to the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation

 ADESIYAN: My name is Adesiyan. I am one of the federal pensioner from Osun State. My problem is that I have tried to confirm my “I’M ALIVE” programme for more 10 times. The message bounces back as ‘Verification Failed and Faces do not Match’. What can I do to solve this problem?

PTAD: Pensioner contacted and advised to locate a cyber café to do fingerprint option.

ANONYMOUS:  Good day, I will like to know if my father is eligible for pension under Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS).

He was appointed on July 3, 1989 and removed on April 27, 1999.

PTAD: No name and other details were provided.

Complaints by pensioners over wrong computations of their grade levels and steps, among others, have received the attention as the Executive Secretary, Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), Dr. Chioma Ejikeme, has ordered a review of such cases.

This was contained in a communique issued at the end of the executive meeting PTAD held with unions and parastatals branch of Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUJ) on January 19, this year, at the Directorate’s Headquarters in Abuja.

The communique read: “Following complaints emanating from the outcome of the Back End Computation by Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), the Executive Secretary set up a Committee comprising Pension Union Executives, Pension Desk Officers (PDOs) and PTAD staff to review complaints bordering on Misapplication of Grade Level/Step in computation; non-inclusion of sectorial allowances not recognised by PTAD as pensionable emoluments; complaints by severed pensioners by Bureau of Public Service Reform (BPSR) as to the recognised date of retirement affecting pensionable years and relevant salary structures; and Application of circular on Consequential Pension Adjustment of 2019.

“The Executive Secretary, Dr. Choma Ejikeme, maintains and reiterates that the major concern of the Directorate is for every bonafide and qualified pensioner to receive their rightful pension. The Committee set up discovered some anomalies in the Back End Computation bordering on: Grade Level/ Step misapplication and Non resolution of acceptable pensionable emoluments as proposed by the Pension Union and PDOs, among others.’’

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It added: “Consequently, the Executive Secretary has ordered for a comprehensive review of the Back End Computation Sector by Sector together with representatives of Bureau of Public Service Reform (BPSR), National Salaries Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), PDOS, Pension Union Executives and PTAD staff.

“As each sector is reviewed with the outcome unanimously adopted, the pensioners, will be put on the payroll based on the results unanimously agreed upon, Any pensioner from any Sector yet to be reviewed by the end of March 2024 will be returned to the September 2023 pension payroll (last payroll prior to the implementation of BEC pending the final review.

“After the final review and adopted results, for any overpayment discovered, recovery will be immediately initiated based on PTAD established Recovery Policy.’’

For contentious issues like the Date of Retirement for severed pensioners, consultation with BPSR to request for extant documents for implementation will be mandatory for complaint resolution.

“On complaints on the consequential pension adjustment of 2019, an explanatory note on the application of the circular from the National Salaries Incomes and Wages Commission has been requested for and resolutions will be based on the response from them.”