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Tag: PTAD

  • PTAD reschedules parastatals pensioners verification

    The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has rescheduled the verification of pensioners and Next of Kin (NoK) of all federally funded parastatals, agencies and institutes in the Southeest, Southwest, Northeast, Northwest and Northcentral regions as well as the Federal Capital territory (FCT) under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS) .

    The Directorate said the rescheduling of the exercise is to enable it review the outcome of the verification exercise in Lagos and the Southsouth Region and restrategise towards ensuring greater efficiency and improved pensioner satisfaction.

    According to the statement, the exercise will recommence from the second week of July.

    PTAD noted that the new dates and venues for the exercise will be announced on June 28.

    While apologising for any inconvenience the postponement might cause pensioners, the directorate said the postponement will not affect monthly pension payments.

  • Apapa gridlock: Sanity gradually returning to Lagos

    Yesterday was Day Three of the Presidential Task Force exercise to clear trailers from the Apapa Port and its environs.

    The Nation learnt that sanity is gradually returning to the port access roads and bridges.

    The task force began the exercise by noon last Saturday, on the expiration of the 72- hour presidential order. It has two weeks to clear the port and the access roads of the gridlock that has made Apapa impassable.

    The trucks, which hitherto were parked on the road from the port to Fadeyi, had been cleared as at yesterday afternoon. No trucks could be found on Western Avenue up to Ojuelegba, Iddo, Ijora Olopa and Eko Bridge.

    It was gathered that the section of the road was cleared on Sunday.

    The Nation learnt that while trucks which have no business in Lagos have been sent back, other trucks which are either returning empties or carrying imported items have been directed to the Lillypond Terminal, which for the sake of the exercise serves as the marshalling yard. Other trucks are parked at the private parking lots. Fifty-four of them have been approved by the Nigerian Ports Authority (NPA) management.

    Trucks could still be seen on the Ijora-Apapa Wharf Bridge. Policemen and Lagos State Transport Management Authority (LASTMA) officials were, however, seen supervising their evacuation.

    Read also: Still the same story on Apapa roads

    The axis that was giving the task force serious challenge as at yesterday was the Coconut, Tin Can axis. The collapse of the Apapa-Oshodi Expressway, especially at Coconut, is making the evacuation difficult, it was learnt.

    Contacted on the phone yesterday, the task force’s Vice Chairman and leader of the enforcement, Comrade Kayode Opeifa, confirmed that the entire Western Avenue area and the adjoining bridges had been cleared.

    He said the work was slowed down on the Tin Can axis because of the bad road, adding that the exercise was, however, going on at a good speed.

    One of the transport operators, who preferred anonymity, said many of the trucks around Coconut and Tin Can might have to be towed away because of the bad road.

    “Several trucks at Coconut have broken down and they may have to be towed away,” he stressed.

    LASTMA General Manager Olawale Musa told our correspondent yesterday that the exercise was successful so far.

    He said it is, however, facing some problems at the Tin Can because the road is bad.

  • PTAD, others collaborate on pension payment

    There is a strong collaboration between the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), the Parastatals Pension Department, the Federal Ministry of Finance, Budget Office of the federation, Auditor General of the Federation, the Accountant General of the Federation and  the National Assembly, the Deputy Director, Parastatals Pension Department, Kabiru Yusuf, has said.

    He spoke during the ongoing verification of all pensioners of treasury funded parastatals, agencies and institutions under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS), organised by PTAD in Lagos.

    Yusuf, who was at the Ikeja Centre to monitor the process, stated that the strong collaboration has made it possible for PTAD to get appropriate funding towards continuous and consistent payment of monthly pension.

    He stated that the current administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has consistently ensured that monthly pension is paid as and when due.

    He expressed excitement that the current administration has made regular payments of pension arrears and paid police officers that were granted pardon by virtue of the Biafra war, among others.

    He said: “The directorate has so far verified about 6000 pensioners since the exercise begun on Tuesday, April 23, 2019, and the exercise runs till May 9, and I am assured that everyone that presents him or herself will be verified’’.

    He added: “From the inception of the administration of President Buhari, there has not been one month of pension that has not been paid. It has always been paid on a regular and consistent basis. In addition, he has made regular payments of 33 months’ pension arrears. Also they have made payment to police officers that were granted pardon by virtue of the Biafran war. This was done close to 17 years after the presidential pardon was given to them.

    “Agencies that were privatised by BPE, close to 30,000 of them of all the seven agencies that have not received any pension as at the last 12 years have been brought under the payroll. This is a reflection of the strong coordination that happened between our office, the ministry of finance, budget office, auditor general, accountant general as well as the national assembly”.

    He also said that the auditor who visited the Ikeja Centre on Monday showed satisfaction of the process adopted by PTAD for the verification.

    “The Auditor-General was impressed with the elaborate process we put in place which include provision for internal audit and federal audit check. He recommended the same system to any form of agency that want to do any form of verification.

    “He also assured PTAD of his 100 per cent support at any point in time. He said any system that does not guarantee transparency and accountability cannot ensure good governance but the system that we have put in place ensures good governance and he is delighted”, he added.

  • PTAD clears 33% rail pensioners’ arrears

    In fulfillment of President Muhammadu Buhari’s promise to clear outstanding pension arrears of pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme, the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has paid N375.9 million to 13,754 pensioners of the Nigeria Railway Corporation (NRC).

    The Executive Director, PTAD, Mrs. Sharon Ikeazor, in a statement, said the payment was the final installment of the 30 months arrears of the 33 per cent pension increment that was confirmed by the management of NRC.

    She said  PTAD inherited outstanding 33 per cent pension increment liabilities from various agencies at the time of its takeover of payment of parastatals pension in 2015.

    Read also: PTAD to verify 104,133 parastatal pensioners

    Mrs. Ikeazor said between 2016 and 2018, 24 months arrears was paid to the pensioners of the corporation, leaving an outstanding balance of six months as at December 2018. She said with the latest payment, PTAD has settled fully the 33 per cent arrears of NRC.

    She assured other agencies that all arrears will be paid after the completion of Parastatals Pension Department (PaPD) verification exercise later in the year.

  • PTAD to verify 104,133 parastatal pensioners

    The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) is to carry out final verification exercise for about 104,133 pensioners. The pensioners  are those retired from government funded parastatals, agencies and institutions under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS) with effect from April 23, 2019, begining with Lagos.

    The Directorate said in a statement in Abuja that the exercise in Lagos will take place in five different locations of Ikeja, Ketu, Akoka, Ebute Metta and Lagos Island.

    The statement explained that 207 Next of Kin (NoK)  of deceased pensioners will also participate in the verification exercise, adding that pensioners may not have to travel to the state where they retired to be verified.

    Pensioners of the Nigeria Aviation Handling Company (NAHCO), Assurance Bank, Nigerian National Shipping Line (NNSL) and the Aluminium Smelter Company of Nigeria (ALSCON) will also be verified during the exercise.

    It added that the exercise is to validate inherited payrolls from the various defunct pension boards and offices which handled payment to pensioners under the DBS and to create a comprehensive digital database of pensioners.

    It said further that the exercise will also facilitate easy access and retrieval of records for computation and prompt complaints resolution and also ensure that monthly pension is accurately calculated and reflects application of relevant pension statutes, policy and salary structures.

    It said the verification exercise will not affect pensioners from the Customs, Immigration and Prisons, Civil Service or the Police and also not for pensioners of parastatals that have already been verified.

    Such paparstatals not included are Delta Steel Company (DSC), NITEL/Mtel, NICON Insurance, Nigeria Reinsurance, New Nigeria Newspapers (NNN), Savannah Sugar Company Ltd, Federal Housing Authority (FHA), Nigerian Defence Academy (Civilians).

    The Directorate would like to reiterate that the verification of pensioners and NoKs

    Directorate would like to reiterate that the verification of pensioners and NoKs will be done in phases across the country. Pensioners should please note that they do not have to travel to the state they retired from to be verified. They will be verified in the state they currently reside.

    Other phases of the exercise will be held in states in the different geopolitical zones between May 10 and October 2, 2019 with the exercise holding in the  South South (May 20th – June 1st, 2019), South West (June 10th – June 26th, 2019), North Central (July 8th – July 24th, 2019), North East (August 5th – August 9th, 2019), North West (August 19th – September 2nd, 2019), South East (September 16th – October 2nd, 2019).

     

  • PTAD pays 103,710 civil service pensioners

    The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has approved immediate payment of N2.60 billion to 103,710 Civil Service pensioners.

    The payment is the final tranche being made to Civil Service pensioners for six months’ arrears of 33 per cent pension increment, in fulfilment of President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to pensioners’ welfare.

    It will be recalled that in July 2010, the Federal Government announced a 33 per cent pension increase for pensioners.

    Read also: PTAD pays N2.6bn as arrears to pensioners

    The Federal Government began the payment of this increment from January 2014 leaving arrears of 42 months outstanding. Out of the 42 months outstanding as at 2014, 24 months was paid in 2016, six months was paid in 2017, while six months was paid in November 2018.

    Based on this, the directorate has now cleared the backlog of the 33 per cent pension arrears of three main departments of Civil Service Pension Department, Police Pension Department and Customs, Immigration and Prisons Pension Department.

    The Directorate has further assured that the backlog of 33 per cent arrears owed parastatal pensioners will be cleared in due course.

  • PTAD pays N2.6bn as arrears to pensioners

    The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) said yesterday that it had paid N2,608,455,504.24 (Two Billion, Six Hundred and Eight Million, Four Hundred and Fifty-Five Thousand, Five Hundred and Four Naira, Twenty Four Kobo Only)  to 103,710 Civil Service pensioners.

    The payment, according to PTAD, is the balance of the 33 percent pension increase to pensioners in the civil service which has dragged on for several years.

    It also explained that the payment  ”is the final tranche being made to Civil Service pensioners on the 6 months arrears of 33% pension increment and is in fulfilment of President Muhammadu Buhari’s led administration’s commitment to pensioners’ welfare.”

    Read also: ICPC praises PTAD on fight against scammers

    It recalled that in July 2010, the Federal Government announced a 33% pension increase for pensioners with payment of the increment commencing from January 2014 leaving arrears of 42 months outstanding.

    It added: “out of the 42 months that was outstanding as at 2014, 24 months was paid in 2016, 6 months was paid in 2017, while 6 months was paid in November 2018.

    “The Directorate has now cleared the backlog of the 33% pension arrears of three main Departments of Civil Service Pension Department, Police Pension Department and Customs, Immigration and Prisons Pension Department.

    It pledged that the backlog of 33% arrears owed Parastatal Pensioners will be cleared in due course.

  • PTAD pays N2.6 billion as outstanding arrears to pensioners

    The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) said on Friday that it has paid about N2,608,455,504.24 (Two Billion, Six Hundred and Eight Million, Four Hundred and Fifty Five Thousand, Five Hundred and Four Naira, Twenty Four Kobo Only) to 103,710 Civil Service pensioners.

    The payment according to a statement from the Management of the company is the balance of the 33 percent pension increase to pensioners in the civil service which has dragged on for several years.

    The statement said that “the payment is the final tranche being made to Civil Service pensioners on the 6 months arrears of 33% pension increment and is in fulfilment of President Muhammadu Buhari’s led administration’s commitment to pensioners’ welfare.

    Read Also: Ekiti pensioners will no longer cry over entitlements — Fayemi

    “It will be recalled that in July 2010, the Federal Government announced a 33% pension increase for pensioners. The Federal Government began the payment of this increment from January 2014 leaving arrears of 42 months outstanding. Out of the 42 months that was outstanding as at 2014, 24 months was paid in 2016, 6 months was paid in 2017, while 6 months was paid in November 2018.

    “The Directorate has now cleared the backlog of the 33% pension arrears of three main Departments of Civil Service Pension Department, Police Pension Department and Customs, Immigration and Prisons Pension Department.

    The Directorate has also further assured that backlog of 33% arrears owed Parastatal Pensioners will be cleared in due course.

  • ICPC praises PTAD on fight against scammers

    The Independent Corrupt Practices Commission (ICPC) has commended the Pension Transitional Directorate Arrangement (PTAD) Executive Secretary, Sharon Ikeazor, for creating the Anti-Corruption and Transparency Unit (ACTU) in the Directorate to tackle scamming and fraud.

    ICPC Executive Chairman, Prof. Bolaji Owasanoye, who gave the commendation, said the Commission was impressed with the media campaigns by the Directorate against fraudsters and staff training on early detection of fraudsters and scammers.

    According to a statement by the Directorate, the ICPC chairman gave the commendation when Ikeazor led senior management staff of the Directorate to the Commission on courtesy visit to the new Chairman and Board members to seek for their collaboration on the fight against pension fraudsters.

    The statement reads: “PTAD Executive Secretary used the meeting to update the chairman on the activities of the Directorate and achievements recorded under her leadership.

    “She said the Directorate has concluded verifications for three main operational Departments which include the Police Pension Department; Custom, Immigrations, Prisons Pension Department; and Civil Service Pension Department under the watch of ICPC officials and that the last Department, the Parastatal Pension Department which comprises of over 270 defunct Treasury Funded Agencies will be conducted in April 2019.

    Read also: New ICPC chief pledges to live above board

    “She also used the visit to solicit enhanced collaboration with the Commission, which would facilitate the apprehension and prosecution of the unscrupulous pension phone scammers, whose antics were becoming savvy.

    “She expressed her appreciation to the Commission for the role they played during PTAD staff audit, conducted with the office of the Head of the Civil Service of the Federation.”

    The ICPC chairman assured PTAD that the Commission would support the Directorate to sanitise the system and end pension scamming and fraud. He promised to create a desk office that would relate with the Directorate to fast-track apprehension and prosecutions of the offenders, the statement added.

  • Maritime retirees protest ‘non-payment’ of pension

    Pensioners of the defunct Nigeria National Shipping Line (NNSL) have protested the non-payment of their pension arrears by the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) since last April.

    Their protest,  they said, was to draw attention to their suffering because of the non-payment of their accumulated arrears.

    Their President, Comrade Patrick Azu Ogobuegwu, who addressed the protesters at the Federal Ministry of Justice, Marina, Lagos, said over 200 of his members had died of hardship and lack of care.

    Ogobuegwu recalled that in 2012 they joined other pararstatals, including NITEL, NICON, and Delta Steel Company, Aladja, to mount pressure the Federal Government to reinstate them into the pension payroll in accordance with the Pension Act.

    He said although their request was granted, PTAD accidentally omitted NNSL later corrected it via a letter to the Ministry of Finance dated December 22, 2017, which also directed Finance Ministry to carry out verification and biometric capture of beneficiaries.

    While the pension of other parastatals had since been effected, Ogobuegwu said his members had been left to their fate.

    He said: “We are asking to know the crime NNSL pensioners committed that has made PTAD to deny us verification and payments as was done to others.

    “It is necessary to state here that NNSL is the forerunner among other parastatals liquidated, and the pensioners’ strength is about 800. The total estimate of pension arrears is about N3billion made up of five years’pension arrears, including 33 per cent on payment made in 2008.”

    The Chairman of the committee of the aforementioned parastatals, Mr. Solomon Nyorere, said NNSL members did not deserve the kind of hardship the government was making them to go through.

    One of the pensioners, Mr. Joseph Otsamira, said the situation has left him broke. “I borrowed N70,000 for hospital bill for my wife when she was sick in December, and another N40,000 for my children’s school fee. We are going through an ugly and unfortunate treatment meted out to us by PTAD,”he lamented, asking, “What is our offence?”