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Tag: PTAD

  • PTAD begins verification of pensioners for payment

    PTAD begins verification of pensioners for payment

    Relief came the way of pensioners of some federal government owned agencies that were privatised on Monday as the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) began their verification with a view to paying them their entitlement several years after they were retired.
    The pension agency on Monday began the verification of pensioners of  NICON Insurance, Nigeria Re-Insurance  Nigerian Defence Academy (NDA Civilians,) and New Nigeria Newspapers who has not been benefiting from the pension for a long time.
    The verification exercise which is taking place simultaneously in Abuja, Kaduna and Lagos was flagged off at the PTAD headquarters in Abuja by the Executive Secretary, Barrister Sharon Ikeazor who said the exercise is expected to last six days.
    PTAD has so far verified civil service pensioners in the North West, northeast, south-south, south-east and part of south-west with only Ogun and Oyo left in the south-west.
    Anxious pensioners of the for companies were thronged the Maitama Headquarters of PTAD and the Kaduna centre for the verification which involves data capturing and verification of documents as early as 8.00am.
    Some of the pensioners spoken to said they were excited that for the first time retirees were having it very smoothly adding that the procedure is completely different from that of the past where pensioners are treated with disdain.
    Chairman of the

    Awa Nmaju, Chairman of the Pensioners Pressure Group and a former staff of NICON Insurance said that they have not received pension in the last twelve years.
    He said: “Our pension has not been paid in the last 12 years and we have been struggling to see that we get paid. Eventually, PTAD has done a great job arranging this verification exercise for us.   A journey that started in 2005 is not a small journey, but were relieved as soon as our case was transferred to PTAD. A lot of attention has been given to it especially with the coming on board of the new Executive Secretary of PTAD Sharon Ikeazor, she has done a great job for us.
    “I am very much excited. In fact, my happiest day was on the 3rd of March when I was told that the minister has approved for us to be pensionable.”
    He said that when the federal government privatized his former corporation and were paid off, he has been finding it difficult to survive; lamenting that what they were paid was not commiserate with the years they put in service.
    However, he said, “Since we have been put under pension, we will start receiving monthly stipend though it may not be as we expected it. Although they will pay us arrears.”
    Another pensioner, Mr Mcihael Olasoni Rees, said: “For the first time, retirees are having it very smoothly and you know  the  procedure is completely different from that of the past where pensioners are treated with disdain; people have fallen down, because of lack of seating arrangement but as you can see, how things are going on very smoothly here.
    “We give kudus to PTAD. The old days where retirees are treated as if they are not human beings look as if it’s past, now you can see how people are going in a good procedure. When we came in they welcomed us very well and told us that there will be snacks after the verification exercise, that has never happened in the history of retirees in this country.
    “My expectation is that, if you have been captured and verified as a retiree, you should enjoy pension. They should speed up the process of pension payment so as to reduce the pressure and the anguish pensioners are going through because honestly, life has not been easy for most us.
    “What PTAD is doing now is part of it. As I said earlier, you can know the rigours when they said they want to verify pensioners they go through hell but now it is a different ballgame. Look at the way they are doing things orderly, look at the way they are attending to pensioners like human beings. Before, pensioners are treated almost like less than an animal, but now they are making things orderly and that is the beauty of it and at least we are getting this treatment but we want the payment to follow almost immediately.”

  • PTAD screens weak pensioners in their homes

    PTAD screens weak pensioners in their homes

    Old and weak retirees under the old pension scheme, Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS), were verified in their various homes in Lagos State by the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD).

    The pensioners, who got screened over the weekend, were drawn from eligible civil service pensioners, numbering over 22 from the total estimate of 21,295, slated for the ongoing verification by the PTAD.

    The exercise, which commenced last week Monday, will end on Friday, September 29, and is being supervised by PTAD Executive Secretary, Sharon Ikeazor.

    The Nation followed PTAD officials to homes of the aged and weak retirees to monitor the event. Among them were Mr Davies Ajayi and his wife, Catherine. They live at Pen Cinema Estate, Agege. Mr Davies is 90 years, while his wife, Catherine, is 86.  They were excited to see the officials at their doorstep.

    Davies, who said he felt great about the exercise, exclaimed happily that it was the first time in his life that he felt loved by the country, that he served for over 40 years.

    He said: “I feel very grateful. In the past, we use to see how our colleagues were destroyed on the long queue while receiving their pension. But I like it now I am particularly grateful to those who are sponsoring this vision. My words to President Buhari is that I am grateful for what is taking place now, which is different from what we have been getting.

    “The pension money is very important to us. For instance, the burden on my children will have been heavier if not for the stipend that I have been getting. It goes a long way to help us and our children. We are not depending totally on our children, but partly on the government.”

    Mrs Ajayi on her part noted that she has been disturbed in the past by the sight of some of her colleagues, who collapse and die while queuing to get verified.

    “In the past, we queue up for up to 10 hours sometimes just to be verified. If we don’t do it, they will remove us from the payroll. Some of my colleagues were not even on the payroll despite being subjected to series of painful verification exercise.

    “Some will fall down and die there. At a point, it became a nightmare for me to go for verification because of how I see my colleagues collapse and I was afraid for my own life too.

    “But now we are grateful for this home verification. We are enjoying it now and our souls pray for the management of PTAD and President Buhari. I also appeal to the government to increase the pension.”

    The first son of the couple, Ademola Ajayi, said he is particular happy that the government has lifted the burden of carrying his aged parents to verification centre.

    “I am the first child and a lot of responsibility falls on me. I have to do a lot of running up and down. When my mother called that they were coming, I was really glad. I used to carry them to the verification centres in the past and it is a relief for me that they have come home to them and I think it is a big improvement on the part of the government.

    “In the past, I would carry them in my car because they were no longer strong to move on their own. Sometimes, when I drop them off, I will quickly run back to my office, do some work and go back to them. It was very stressful for aged people and us their children. Some of them were carried on back of their children or relatives. But with this new arrangement, we will not have to worry again.

    “I appeal to the President to review their pension because what they are receiving now is stipend. In developed and developing countries, senior citizens are provided with all the services they need. They are provided with free services like  free healthcare, bus ride, among others. If this can be introduced here in our system, it will go a long way in ameliorating the kinds of pains that go with old age.

    Mrs Eunice Ogun, 88-year-old retiree, who was also verified in her home at Oladeinde Street, Agege, Lagos, expressed gratitude to PTAD.

    Mrs. Ogun said she just recovered from a serious illness and is happy to still be alive.

    She urged PTAD to continue to support the old and weak retirees in all that they do

  • We ‘re not owing pension arrears, says PTAD

    We ‘re not owing pension arrears, says PTAD

    THE Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate ((PTAD) has said it is not holding on to any money meant for the payment of 33 per cent pension increase for pensioners.

    It said all funds released by the government has been duly utilised for the purpose it was meant for.

    In a statement, PTAD said it was not in arrears in the payment of pension to pensioner under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS), especially those in the Civil Service, parastatals, police and Customs, Immigration and Prison pensioners since it pays monthly pension as at when due.

    The statement added that the balance of the outstanding 33 per cent arrears has been included in the total pension liability established and reconciled by the Inter-ministerial Committee on Pension Liabilities, which was set up by President Muhammadu Buhari and chaired by the Honourable Minister of Finance.

    The statement reads: “The attention of the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has been drawn to certain misinformation making the rounds concerning the payment of 33 per cent arrears to pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS).

    “These unfounded stories suggested that the Federal Government had released various sums of money to PTAD for the settlement of 33  per cent pension arrears to pensioners and that PTAD is holding on to the money. Nothing could be further from the truth.

    “Ordinarily, the directorate wouldn’t have responded to these unsubstantiated claims. But having noticed that if these rumours were allowed to continue unabated, they are capable of exposing our pensioners to criminal scams perpetrated by pension fraudsters. It has, therefore, become imperative on the Directorate to set the records straight on the issue of 33  per cent, and indeed other pension related matters.

    “PTAD is not in arrears in the payment of Monthly Pension to Civil Service, parastatals, police and Customs, Immigration and Prison pensioners. The directorate pays monthly pension as at when due;

    “PTAD does not operate any account outside the Treasury Single Account (TSA) and all payments are made via GIFMIS or Remita, depending on the mode of release, as the Directorate is 100 per cent treasury funded.”

  • LASACO gets PTAD’s commendation

    LASACO gets PTAD’s commendation

    The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), through its Divisional Manager, Mrs Christianah Adebote, has commended Lasaco Assurance Plc for settling the Legacy Funds in its custody.

    Adebote gave the thumbs up in Abuja when the company transferred N1.063 billion meant for pensions of six Federal Governement parastatals under the Definded Benefit Scheme (DBS).

    She gave the company a Letter of Clearance on behalf of the directorate and urged other companies that are yet to settle their obligations based on the directive to take a cue from those that have complied.

    Adebote said the directorate, last year, issued demand notices on the insurance companies holding legacy funds meant for payment of pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS) to transfer outstanding funds into “our dedicated e-Collection account with the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN)’’

    She explained that the Pensions Reform Act (PRA) 2014 vested all pension assets, funds and liabilities in PTAD and warned that it has become imperative for other concerned companies still holding onto the legacy funds to transfer them to PTAD without further delay.

    She also noted that the intention of the Federal Government’s request for the release of these funds is to grow them for the prompt payment of pension.

    The General Manager (Marketing) LASACO Assurance Plc, Ademoye Shobo while collecting the Letter of Set Off from PTAD, having fully paid the amount due, said the legacy funds managed on behalf of six Federal Government parastatals as required by Section 42 of the Pension Reform Act (2014) was fully remitted in July 2017.

  • PTAD: pensioners hail stress-free verification

    Thousands of civil service pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS) yesterday trooped out in Lagos for screening in the current verification by the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD).

    The pensioners submitted their documents and did the fingerprinting, scanning and uploading of the documents into existing database of genuine pensioners.

    They expressed joy, describing the verification as stress-less.

    Mrs Roseline Adeniyi, a retired Chief Matron from Lagos State in 2006, said the verification was a good departure from the past when they stood in scorching sun to be verified.

    She noted that the PTAD arrangement went on smoothly.

    Mrs Adeniyi said: “Since I retired 11 years ago, it has been one painful verification to another. With PTAD, the verification has been stress-free.

    “I am yet to be paid my pension and gratuity. But I love what I am seeing today and my message to President Muhammadu Buhari is that he should release money as soon as possible so that we can be paid.”

    Another pensioner, Sir Odororo, said he retired in 1999 and had been attending series of verification to receive his pension.

    The pensioner regretted the pains he went through in the past but expressed happiness that PTAD was verifying pensioners without giving them stress.

    He said: “The new pension system is good. I hope they will continue with this pattern. It has been very wonderful and commendable, compared to the previous verifications.”

    Mrs Shofolahan said she retired in 1992 and had been receiving her pension.

    The retiree said went through several verifications in the past.

    She added: “I just came for the usual verification and my experience today has been awesome. The organisation is better the tedious system that we went through under the previous administration.

  • PTAD to verify 21,295 pensioners in Lagos

    PTAD to verify 21,295 pensioners in Lagos

    The verification of eligible civil service pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS) in Lagos State will begin today and end on September 29, the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), has said.

    A statement from PTAD’s management in Abuja yesterday indicates that verification of the pensioners in Lagos will be the second phase of the exercise in the Southwest zone.

    It said PTAD had conducted similar verification of pensioners in Osun, Ondo and Ekiti states in August.

    PTAD said the Lagos verification was a continuation of similar exercises in four zones  involving 64,825 pensioners.

    It said that pensioners, who were hitherto not pay rolled for years were now verified and paid with arrears.

    According to the statement, 21,295 pensioners are expected to be verified in five centres in Lagos.

    The centres, according to PTAD include, Alausa, Yaba, Ketu, Amuwo Odofin and Agege.

    PTAD said the process of verification of the pensioners would consist of four distinct steps of biodata, capturing and provision of other relevant documents.

    It said that the entire process was to suitably place the pensioners in the payroll and database for payment of their monthly pension.

    It further revealed that sick pensioners would be covered in their locations, adding that a total of 108 PTAD staff were being deployed for the exercise.

    It also indicated that the Executive Secretary of PTAD, Mrs Sharon Ikeazor would supervise the exercise.

  • PTAD to verify 21,295 pensioners in Lagos

    PTAD to verify 21,295 pensioners in Lagos

    About 21,295 pensioners are expected to participate in the second phase of the South West verification exercise being conducted by the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) in Lagos state between Monday, September 18 and Friday, September 29, 2017.

    A statement from the agency said eligible civil service pensioners under the defined benefit scheme will take part in the two week exercise which will be supervised by the Executive Secretary of the PTAD, Barrister Sharon Ikeazor.

    The first phase of the exercise for the south west took place in August and covered three states of Osun, Ondo and Ekiti, while Oyo and Ogun states are expected to be covered during the final phase in the zone.

    Similar exercise has been concluded in four zones of the country involving 64,825 pensioners who were not payrolled for years but now verified and being paid with arrears. 

    The statement said the over 21000 pensioners are expected to be verified in five centres in Alausa, Yaba, Ketu, Amuwo Odofin and Agege. 

    It said further that the process will take four distinct steps for capturing their biodata and other relevant documents for them to be suitably placed in the payroll and database for payment of their monthly pension. 

    The sick and infirm will be covered in their locations, pointing out that total of 108 PTAD staff are being deployed for the exercise. 

  • PTAD pays over N7b to 236,705 pensioners in August

    The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has paid retirees who are under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS) for last month.

    In a statement by PATD’s Deputy Director, Corporate Communications, Mr Emma Okondo, said  about N7.5 billion was paid to 236,705 Pensioners under the scheme.

    It stated that PTAD was committed to keeping its promise of making prompt payment to pensioners when due.

    In a related event, the Association of Retired Police officers of Nigeria (ARPON), Kano State Chapter, has appealed to the National Assembly to fast-track the amendment of the Pension Reform Act 2014.

    Its Secretary, Saidu Garba, said the amendment would pave way for the exclusion of its members from the Contributory Pension Scheme.

    Garba said it was the desire of the association across the three states of Kano, Katsina, and Jigawa, who are members of the chapters, for the Federal Government to revert to the previous Police Pension Scheme.

    “We are using this medium to express our willingness and desire as police pensioners under this scheme, to be excluded from the Contributory Pension Scheme,’’ he said.

  • PTAD pays N834.4m to 1690 Southsouth pensioners

    PTAD pays N834.4m to 1690 Southsouth pensioners

    The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has paid N834.45 million pension arrears to 1,690 pensioners from the SouthSouth, its Executive Secretary, Mrs.  Sharon Ikeazor, has said.

    She told reporters in Lagos that the pensioners were from the civil service.

    She said payment was effected on August 18 to verified pensioners and assured pensioners of the directorate’s commitment to its core mandate.

    She explained that pensioners under the Directorate were also under the old scheme – the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS).

    Mrs Ikeazor said the Pension Commission (PenCom) would take over from the Directorate the payment of retired federal heads of service and permanent secretaries who fall under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) next January.

    She said there were 217 retired federal heads of service and permanent secretaries, 137 of which fall under the DBS while 80 are of the CPS.

    She said:  “Recall that PTAD administers all pension matters under the DBS and PenCom handle retirees under the CPS.

    “Under two Memoranda of Understanding (MoU) signed in 2016 and 2017 between both pension agencies, an agreement was reached for PTAD to pay the monthly pensions of retired Federal Heads of Service and as such, budgetary provisions were made in the 2017 Budget for payment of all 80 retired federal heads of service and permanent secretaries under the CPS.’’

    She continued: “Thus far, PTAD has been able to ensure that these senior citizens have received their pension entitlements till date and will continue to do so until December 31, 2017. PenCom has prepared the necessary guidelines for the payment of the retired federal heads of service and permanent secretaries under the CPS. This was a critical area that PTAD, had earlier stressed a need for, to ensure smooth transition devoid of hitches which could negatively impact on pension payments.’’

    Mrs Ikeazor said the Acting Director-General of PenCom, Aisha Dahir-Umar assured the Council of Retired Federal Permanent Secretaries (CORFEPS) representatives of a smooth transition to ensure that payments were effected next year.

    She said recently PTAD verified retired federal heads of service and permanent secretaries. The event, she added, was attended by the CORFEPS General Secretary, Mr. Japh Nwosu; Publicity Secretary, Dr. Goke Adegoroye and Treasurer Mr. Akin Arikawe.

     

  • S/South: PTAD pays N835.45m arrears to 1,690 pensioners

    S/South: PTAD pays N835.45m arrears to 1,690 pensioners

    The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) on Monday said that it has paid about N835.45 million as arrears to about 1,690 pensioners from the South-South who were recently verified.

    In a statement from the agency made available to newsmen, PTAD said it was committed to the ensuring that welfare of pensioners under its defined benefit scheme is taken care of.

    The two paragraph statement: “The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has paid the sum of Eight Hundred and Thirty-Four Million, Four Hundred and Fifty-Nine Thousand and Six Hundred and Twenty Naira, and Three Kobo (N834, 459,620.03) as pension arrears to One Thousand, Six Hundred and Ninety (1,690) verified civil service pensioners from the South-South zone.

    “This was effected on the 18th of August, 2017. PTAD assures of its commitment to pensioners under its mandate under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS)”

    Th agency only recently conducted another round of verification in three states of Osun, Ondo and Ekiti in the south west, saying it wants to create a data base of pensioners to enable government make an adequate budgetary allocation for the payment of pensions.