PTAD boss commends Tinubu for approving pension increment, opens Ilorin office

By Mosunmola Ayobami, Ilorin

The Executive Secretary of the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), Dr Chioma Ejikeme, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for approving increment in pensions.

Dr. Ejikeme gave the commendation while speaking with newsmen shortly after commissioning the Kwara State PTAD office in Ilorin on Tuesday.

Dr Ejikeme also confirmed that the agency has received approval for the 2024 Pension increment in fulfillment of the Constitutional provision of Section 173 (3), providing for a 5-yearly pension increment for pensioners.

She revealed that the increment which took effect from the 1st of January, 2024, is historic as it is the first time the Federal Government implemented the constitutional provision proactively and timely, adding that PTAD will be executing the increment with the commencement of the payment of the accrued arrears this August.

She urged pensioners who are yet to confirm that they are alive through the “I Am Alive” Confirmation Solution to do so.

She disclosed that the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has processed and paid a total sum of ₦395,559,795.09 as death benefits and gratuity to 238 Next-of-Kin (NOK) of deceased pensioners and pensioners as at July 19, 2024.

The PTAD boss emphasized that the directorate was determined to address all legitimate complaints of non-payment of gratuities to some pensioners and death benefits to Next-of-Kin of deceased pensioners across all the pension departments.

She also said that she inaugurated a Directorate Wide Expanded NOK & Gratuity Project in December 2023, following complaints from Next-of-Kin of deceased pensioners and some pensioners concerning non-payment of inherited liabilities.

Ejikeme disclosed that the project was on-going, adding that the rest of the NoK and Gratuity Benefit claims files are undergoing prudent checks and validation.

She stated: “Because as I often say, any money that is wrongly paid to a NOK beneficiary is like money put in the belly of the tiger, as it would be very difficult, if not impossible to recover.

“Nevertheless, it is worthy to note that PTAD is working tirelessly with the relevant stakeholders and respective High Courts of Justice across the Federation to ensure that the Letters of Administration in favour of the NOK are validated within the shortest time frame, and other related checks completed to enable the remaining beneficiaries receive their entitlements in the shortest possible time”.

Dr. Ejikeme informed that since inception in 2013, PTAD has opened 11 state offices across the six geo-political zones of the country, adding that Kwara State office being commissioned on Tuesday is the the 12th PTAD state office, in addition to the FCT Abuja Office (headquarters).

“PTAD has offices in the following cities: Yola, Awka, Maiduguri, Ibadan, Benin, Enugu, Kaduna, Kano, Lagos, Sokoto, Yobe, and now, Ilorin,” she said.

She said that the aim of establishing the state offices in strategically-selected locations nationwide is to bring 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).

She said: “I continue to enjoin by Pension Union Executives here to assist the Directorate in spreading this information to their members. Our officers are also here and available to assist anyone who is having challenges confirming their aliveness. We have also come with a mobile team to visit infirm and bed-ridden pensioners to provide assistance with their confirmation.

“To our prospective new enrollees, the legacy pensioners from the Federal Mortgage Finance Limited and the Federal Mortgage Bank whom we are presently verifying, I say welcome to PTAD. I want to assure and reassure you of PTAD’s commitment to your welfare.

“Finally, I would like to express our profound gratitude to the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for his commitment to the welfare of our pensioners through the timely, prompt, continuous and uninterrupted release of funds for the payment of monthly pensions and the continued liquidation of inherited pension liabilities”.

Earlier, the Deputy Governor of Kwara State, Mr Kayode Alabi represented by the Chairman, Local Government Service Commission, Alhaji Umar Shero said the state government has settled all pension arrears inherited.

Alabi added that the governor has given succor to pensioners in the state, calling for more support of his administration and that of President Tinubu.

Selected pensioners who spoke separately commended PTAD for establishing the Kwara office which they said would ease the stress of traveling down to nation’s capital when there are issues to sort out.