Tag: PTAD

The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has issued a response to complaints and enquiries raised by pensioners and other stakeholders regarding the 20 per cent and 28 per cent pension increases for 2024, which were implemented in August 2024 following a circular from the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) dated July 8, 2024.

The Executive Secretary, Tolulope Odunaiya explained that the changes in pensioners’ monthly pensions are as a result of the reimplementation of the Consequential Pension Adjustment (CPA), in accordance with directives from NSIWC in July 2024.

She stated that to provide context, in May 2021, PTAD had implemented the approved CPA following the increase in the National Minimum Wage of April 2019, based on a circular from NSIWC dated April 28, 2021.

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Odunaiya said upon receiving the circular, PTAD promptly implemented the pension adjustment and paid the accumulated arrears for two years, using budgeted funds and savings.

She said: “The implementation of the CPA and the arrears was calculated using Pension Pay Bands, as recommended by the Technical Sub-Committee (TSC) for pensions in line with the 2019 National Minimum Wage. The TSC’s recommendation aimed to improve the welfare of pensioners at the lower end of the pension scale.

This approach significantly reduced the percentage of pensioners receiving less than N10,000 monthly, from 27 per cent to 2 per cent, while increasing the number of pensioners receiving up to N30,000 monthly, from 32 per cent to 48 per cent.

“After the implementation, PTAD received various complaints from pensioners and pension unions regarding the accuracy of the implementation. In response to these concerns, PTAD sought clarification from NSIWC about the implementation model. NSIWC’s response, via a letter dated 8th July 2024, clarified that the 2019 CPA should be applied based on Grade Levels, using the specific figures provided for each Grade Level. The letter also exempted defunct, commercialized, and privatized agencies from the increment, except for those who retired under the listed Salary Structure outlined in the circular”, she noted.

The PTAD ES further stated that following this clarification, PTAD engaged with pension union executives and relevant stakeholders to communicate these changes and ensure a smooth implementation.

“The revised approach was adopted in the August 2024 monthly pension payments. As expected, some pensioners who previously benefited from the Band-based method saw their pensions change due to the switch to the Grade Level method, resulting in a reduction for some and an increase for others.

“It is important to note that the 2024 20 per cent /28 per cent pension increment was calculated using the Grade Level-adjusted 2019 CPA figures whose salary structure was enumerated in the circular. Therefore, the adjustment depends on the re-computed 2019 CPA, now based on Grade Levels”.

She reminded all stakeholders that it is a government agency tasked with implementing government policies and directives, while also reaffirming that the welfare of pensioners remains her utmost priority, in line with the Directorate mandate under the Pension Reform Act (PRA) 2014 and its day-to-day operations.

Dear Mr. AMBROSE, please send your verification slip to our email complaints@ptad.gov.ng to enable us to deal. Thank you.

OJO: Our Dear Sister, I am one of Heritage bank’s customers at Ado Ekiti. I am one of those who were not paid their pension since May. I sent a message to you with all my particulars. Please, I am waiting for your help. Ojo from Ado Ekiti.

PTAD: Dear Mr. Ojo we are not in receipt of your new bank statement from UBA as we discussed with you and your daughter on the phone. Thank you.

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 six months (January to July 1993) has not been paid. The Nation newspaper through you (Omobola) should please help me. Thank you.

PTAD: Dear Mabaraku, kindly forward your verification slip to our email complaints@ptad.gov.ng to enable us to investigate and respond further. Thank you.

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AKAGBOSU: Good day, my name is Akagbosu. My complaint is on nonpayment of monthly pension for several months now. I am the eldest child and next of kin to Mrs Akagbosu, the complainant. She retired as a staff of NIFOR, since 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 all getting theirs. She did PTAD verification in Benin City on May 29, 2019. She complained severally at the PTAD Benin City office on different of which she was given complaint form to fill and also attached all necessary documents needed, alongside for follow up and also do ‘I AM ALIVE’ capturing, all to no avail. This nonpayment of her monthly pension benefits has worsened her conditions badly, and presently she is battling partial stroke/hypertension and eyes sight diseases. Kindly use your good office to intercede for her to ensure that she is restored on payroll for her to be getting her monthly benefits and also backlogs of arrears are paid to her promptly. Thanks for your anticipated response.

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

I retired in May 2008 on consolidated salary from Oyo State Civil Service. Duly completed gratuity and pension documents were sent to PTAD before my retirement date to enable it to pay federal government portion of my retirement package. I was not placed on monthly pension until 27 months after my retirement. Up till today, my gratuity and 27 months of pension arrears are yet to be paid. I have participated in all verification exercises carried out 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 made to me. My entitlement had been outstanding since 2008, 16 years ago. I hope PTAD will rise up to its responsibility and pay my outstanding entitlements. I am about 80 years of age.

ADAJI: Dear Nation newspaper, help me request PTAD to pay me my gratuity which they informed me through The Nation newspaper publication of Wednesday June 15, 2022 that my gratuity had been computed for payment. I have waited patiently for the alert but to no avail. I wrote severally to that effect but till date, they have not let me know the cause of the delay. Recently, I received a call from PTAD precisely July 11, 2024 through telephone number requesting for my account details for payment of my gratuity which I did. Yet, till date, I have not received alert. I called severally 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.

THE NATION: The Newspaper will intervene by sending your complaint to PTAD. Therefore, AKAGBOSU, ADEGEBO and ADAJI, should watch out for the pension page on Wednesdays for response from PTAD and subsequently every Wednesday for pension news.

Annonmous: Good day, I write on behalf of Nathaniel, a pensioner.  PTAD has not paid me the correct amount to my grade level 08/15 since I started receiving pension. I am appealing to PTAD to pay all allowances to my grade level from June 2010 till date. I am an old man now so it is not easy for me to travel from Kogi to Abuja. Please, have pity on me to pay all my allowances including my gratuity which is short paid at the moment.

PTAD: Dear Mr. Abubakar Nathaniel, please send your verification slip to our email complaints@ptad.gov.ng to enable us to deal. Thank you.

IRIOGBE: Dear Omobola, It is alleged that 30per cent of pensioners under PTAD (DBS) have been paid the N32,000 each which the government approved as minimum wage effective July 29, 2024. If this is true, I would like to know the yardsticks used in paying them while others are left out? Does it mean others yet to be paid are now regarded as second class citizens? The arrears as at today, has gone to nine months. I have no doubt that the 2025 budget signed into law by the president will cover the payments of the new minimum wage or the arrears. The government should therefore, release enough funds to PTAD to pay us early.

PTAD: Dear Mr. IRIOGBE, kindly note that all pensioners are the same as far as PTAD is concerned. We apologize for any inconvenience this may have caused you.  However, the increment of arrears will be paid as soon as funds for that purpose are made available by the FG.  Thank you.

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DSP ATAKAH: Hello, I am Rtd DSP Yohanna. I retired in 2006. In July 2015, I was paid my gratuity and placed on monthly pension without the nine years pension arrears. I noticed my step was reduced. i was confirmed ASP in 1997 and promoted DSP in 2003 (step 7). PTAD staff asks me to provide my promotion letters including statement of account which I produced to them. They checked and told me that they made a mistake. They gave me a form and I filled it in March 2000. I was paid N3 million out of the nine years pension arrears. I shall be grateful if PTAD treat my complaint. Thank you.

PTAD: Dear Mr. ATAKAH, please send your verification slip to our email complaints@ptad.gov.ng to enable us to deal as we discussed on the phone. Thank you.

ALEXANDER: Dear Omobola, my name Alexander, retiree of Power Holding Company Nigeria. I discovered in my career table that l was wrongly placed on grade level 08/step/11 instead of my correct retirement grade level 08/step/13. Incremental date is First January 2012.

PTAD: Dear Mr. Alexander, please forward your last promotion letter to our email complaints@ptad.gov.ng as we discussed on the phone. Kindly take note that based on the documents you provided during your verification, you are currently on your correct grade level. Thank you.

Failure by pensioners under the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) to reconfirm that they are alive half-yearly may result in the suspension of their payments, the Executive Secretary, Tolulope Odunaiya, has warned.

The PTAD boss is, however, calling on pensioners to always use the link, https://iamalive.ptad.gov.ng, to do so.

She stated that this process ensures that only pensioners that are alive remain on their payroll.

She explained: “I Am Alive Confirmation” is a web solution for verified pensioners to confirm their “aliveness status” for continued receipt of their pension in two options which include facial and fingerprint confirmation.

She stated that this could be accessed using the internet via a computer or smartphone.

She said: “Facial confirmation is done using a smartphone to compare a pensioner’s facial image with the picture on the database taken during verification, while the fingerprint confirmation involves the use of a computer with the Secugen fingerprint capturing device.

“Where a pensioner is sick or infirm and cannot perform either option of the PTAD’s “I Am Alive’’ Confirmation, the Directorate urged pensioners to contact PTAD head Office, and state offices or send request to compliants@ptad.gov.ng for assistance.’’

Facial Confirmation

For Facial Confirmation, Odunaiya said pensioners are expected to log on to PTAD website, www.ptad.gov.ng using a smart phone/computer system, click on the “I AM ALIVE” icon at the top of the page and follow the instructions.

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“They are to start the ‘I Am Alive’ confirmation following the two- step validation by entering pensioner’s number and bank account number. Pensioners are to take their photo, which will be validated with the picture in the PTAD database, perform the aliveness check by moving their face to follow the moving object on the screen.

“When the aliveness check is completed, the confirmation page will display “Successful” and the pensioner will receive an SMS notification of the successful completion of the process.

The pensioner will need to access a computer system with a fingerprint device for fingerprint capturing, ensuring that NET Framework Runtime 4.7.2 and .NET Desktop Runtime 5.0.7 are installed on the computer.

They are to click to download the “I Am Alive Setup” Folder, extract files and install on their computer one after the other.

“After a successful installation of the ‘I Am Alive’ Confirmation desktop application, double click on the application icon on the desktop to launch the application. Start the “I Am Alive” confirmation process following the two steps validation process: enter the pensioner’s number; and bank account.

“Do the fingerprint validation by placing any of your fingers on the fingerprint device for capturing and if the fingerprint is captured, it will display a “Success” in the message box. When the aliveness check is completed, the pensioner will receive an SMS notification. They are to contact us with any of the numbers: +234(02) 09-462-1708 +234(02) 09-462-1709 +234(02) 09-462-1710 for support,, she added.

OLUWOLE: Good day, my name is Oluwole and I write on behalf of myself and Adesola from Ado Ekiti. Two of us have been trying to do our I am Alive for many times we can’t get our eyes and the finger prints to work on the system. What we can do

PTAD RESPONSE: We called the two pensioners and they informed us that they have successfully confirmed their aliveness, therefore they are going to be restored on payroll and their arrears will be paid.

DMBIEM: I am DMBIEM, an actuary. I want answers. PTAD from 2013 to 2024 did interesting stories. They said N610billion payouts were from 2015 to 2021 and pensioners 226,328 as at the period. In 2022 alone, 226,693 while PTAD pensioners received N754billion. The 2024 story was incomplete: pensions 2025 would be N63.8billion, no pensioners. FGN Budget for Fiscal Year 2025 figure cited N46.020trillion, Wages N7.476 trillion 16.2 per cent Debts Refunds N16.330 trillion 35.4 per cent All and SundriesN21.578 trillion 46.9 per cent PTAD PensionsN63.6bn 0.1 per cent PENCOM Personal Savings Accounts Assets N14.990 trillion AVERAGE N53.920million from PSA Assets divided by 278000 all alive cases. It means HOS, SIWC & PTAD Offices, with all due regards, are not helping. They conspire and make pensioners to be ashamed of themselves 0.1 trillion Budget. I challenge all three above. PTAD especially should move HOS & SIWC to make pensions meaningful. I hate the starvation pensions paid 2004 till date. DMBIEM

PTAD: PTAD was recently in receipt of 2 circulars referenced SWC/S/04/S.542/II/404 dated 20th November 2023 and SWC/S/04/S.542/II/449 dated 30th April 2024, from the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission (NSIWC) for the approval of pension increment to pensioners under the Defined Benefits Scheme covering different salary structures. By the provisions of the circular, the Consolidated Public Service Salary Structure under which all pensioners of the Civil Service Pension Department and some under Parastatals falls is one of the salary structures included

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PTAD was also in receipt of another letter from the National Salaries, Income and Wages Commission regarding the implementation of the consequential pension adjustment (CPA) which took effect from April 2019. The clarification revised the implementation of the CPA to Grade level as against the previous Pay-Band

Clarification from the NSIWC which revised the implementation of the CPA to Grade level was taken into cognizance and accordingly implemented on the payroll before the application of the new pension increment of 20-28% as applicable which will take effect from September 2024.

It should be noted that the arrears are paid in batches, therefore if you have not been paid, you will be in the next.

PTAD is aware of the non payment 20% and 28% of this pensioner, he is among the list of those that are yet to be paid. Please be informed the arrears are paid in batches, the N32 naira increment will also be paid as soon as the fund are available.

We contacted this Pensioner on phone to provide his verification slip or BVN as the account number he provided is not in our record. But he said he was not at home to provide it.

PTAD is aware of the nonpayment 20per cent ad 28per cent of this pensioner, he is among the list of those that are yet to be paid. Please be informed the arrears are paid in batches and the N32 naira increment will also be paid as soon as the fund are available.

Kindly provide us with the hardcopy of your Bank Statement from retirement till date to enable us process your complaint of non-payment of gratuity. Also note that you are required to attach a complaint letter addressed to the Executive Secretary and also note that we are in the process of reviewing and re-computing all the Back End Computation.

The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has addressed the controversial issue of Check-Off Dues (CODs) that has been causing rancour between pensioners and the Directorate.

CODs refer to the practice of employers deducting union dues or fees from employees’ paychecks and remitting the same to the union.

According to PTAD, COD deductions will now be remitted to only the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) to oversee pensioners under the Civil Service Pensions Department; and Federal Parastatals and Private Pensioners Association of Nigeria (FEPPPAN), to oversee pensioners under the Parastatals Pension Department.

This, the Directorate said, is in line with the delineation of membership approved by the Registrar of Trade Unions (RTU) and stated in paragraph 1 (i and ii) of these guidelines.

PTAD, in the new guidelines stated that in line with the Trade Unions Act, Labour Act and PTAD’s mandate to ensure transparency and accountability in pension administration, the guidelines are issued for the deduction and remittance of CODs from monthly pensions of pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS) as managed by the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD).

Eligibility

Only unions/associations registered by relevant authorities are eligible for payment of CODs. It is in conformity with this provision and, in furtherance of the decision of the RTU to restructure and delineate the jurisdictional scope of the umbrella unions under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS), that, henceforth, PTAD will remit checkoff dues to only the two unions registered by the RTU – NUP and FEPPPAN.

The Directorate had an interactive engagement with relevant stakeholders comprising  executives of pensioners’ unions and representatives of the Federal Ministry of Justice, the Federal Ministry of Labour, Registrar of Trade Unions as well as other related parties on August 29, 2024 to establish the framework for the implementation of COD deductions and remittances under the new order.

Pensioners’ consent

Deductions are strictly voluntary. Therefore, the consent of representatives of unions and associations apart from NUP and FEPPAN is required to proceed with the new arrangement. Similarly, pensioners’ unions and associations under the Parastatals Pensions Department (PaPD) who wish to align with FEPPPAN, in compliance with the directive of the RTU, should indicate same by a letter to the Directorate; and category of pensioners unions and associations who chose to align with FEPPPAN.

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Also, unions and associations under Parastatals Pensions Department who do not wish to align with FEPPPAN, in line with the directive of the RTU, should indicate the same by a letter to the Directorate. However, in this instance, PTAD will not deduct CoDs from members of these unions and associations and 100 per cent of monthly pensions would be paid to members; only  pensioners are allowed to exercise power to withdraw their membership of a union that they have been placed under following the statutory directive of the RTU. In essence, withdrawal of membership by a group of individuals is neither legal nor acceptable.

Compliance

All pensioners and pensioners’ unions and associations are required to comply with these guidelines within 90 days from the date of this publication. It is important to note that, at the expiration of the 90 days, only pensioners and pensioners’ unions who comply with the terms will be eligible to receive check-off-dues from the Directorate and this will be remitted through either the national bodies of NUP or FEPPPAN.

Deduction mechanism and remittance procedure

Deductions will be processed monthly based on submitted and verified authorisations.

No deduction shall exceed the amount authorised or contravene pension regulations. As stated above, remittances will be made to the approved bank account of the two unions within 14 working days of monthly pension disbursement. A remittance schedule will accompany each CoD, including names of pensioners, amounts deducted, and the sums remitted.

PTAD will also provide monthly reports and may schedule periodic reconciliations with union representatives where the need arises. Any discrepancies must be reported within 30 days of remittance.

Termination of deductions

Pensioners may cancel their authorisation via a written withdrawal notice. Cancellation becomes effective in the next deduction cycle. PTAD reserves the right to suspend remittances in cases of irregularities or legal disputes.

PTAD also reserves the right to review and update these guidelines.

ANONYMOUS: Good day, I write on behalf of Nathaniel, a pensioner.  PTAD has not paid me the correct amount on my grade level 08/15 since I started receiving pension. I am appealing to PTAD to pay the allowances to my grade level from June 2010 till date. I am an old man, so it is not easy for me to travel from Kogi to Abuja. Please, have pity on me to pay my allowances, including my gratuity which is short paid.

IRIOGBE: Dear Omobola, it is alleged that 30 per cent of pensioners under PTAD (DBS) have been paid N32,000 each, which the government approved as minimum wage effective July 29, 2024. If this is true, I would like to know the yardsticks for paying them while others are left out? Does it mean others yet to be paid are regarded as second-class citizens? The arrears have gone to nine months. I have no doubt that the 2025 budget signed into law by the president will cover the payments of the new minimum wage or the arrears. The government should, therefore, release enough funds to PTAD to pay us early.

DSP YOHANNA: Hello, I am DSP Yohanna. I retired in 2006. In July 2015, I was paid my gratuity and placed on monthly pension without the nine years’ pension arrears. I noticed my step was reduced. I was confirmed ASP in 1997 and promoted DSP in 2003 (step 7). PTAD staff members asked me to provide my promotion letters, including the statement of account, which I produced to them. They checked and told me that they made a mistake. They gave me a form and I filled it in March 2000. I was paid N3 million out of the nine years’ pension arrears. I shall be grateful if PTAD treats my complaint. Thank you.

LAMIDI: Good day, my name is Lamidi. I am a former NTA Minna staff member. My complaint is about the N32,000 minimum wage arrears for DBS pensioners. The  increase was paid to me from January to August 2024 arrears.The monthly increment did not reflect from August 2024 till date. My salary is N24,000, instead of N33,000. Therefore, N9,000 has been cut off.  Kindly help me.

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BODE: Dear Omobola, I am Bode. I am reminding PTAD that my pension since the closure of Heritage Bank has not been solved since May 2024. I have sent my documents to PTAD two times but no response. I have changed to United Bank of Africa (UBA). Kindly help me.

ANONYMOUS: Good day, my husband retired as a Deputy Director of Education Services in 1997. He has been receiving federal pension until several months ago. What can we do for it to be resumed?

ALEXANDER: Dear Omobola, my name is Alexander, retiree of Power Holding Company Nigeria (PHCN). I discovered in my career table that l was misplaced on grade level 08/step/11 instead of my correct retirement grade level 08/step/13. Incremental date is January 1, 2012.

THE NATION: The Newspaper will intervene by sending your complaint to PTAD. Therefore, IRIOGBE, DSP YOHANNA, LAMIDI and BODE should watch out for the pension page on Wednesdays for response from PTAD and subsequently every Wednesday for pension news.