PTAD: How we’ve been able to address challenges of pensioners

The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) says it has addressed the challenges of pensioners across the country.

Speaking at a forum with pensioners and stakeholders in the north-west zone on Monday, Chioma Ejikeme, PTAD executive secretary, said since the establishment of the directorate 10 years ago, it has consistently worked hard to achieve positive and sustainable changes in the direct benefits scheme (DBS) pension management.

She said prior to the establishment of the PTAD, the DBS was fraught with allegations of fraud, corruption and inefficiencies, adding that the establishment of the directorate changed the narrative.

“PTAD’s determination to change the narrative as far as pension administration under the defined benefits scheme (DBS) in Nigeria is concerned is irrevocable. The processes and controls that have been put in place by PTAD have contributed immensely to the change being witnessed today in the management of the Defined Benefit Pension scheme,” Ejikeme said.

“The hard work of PTAD over the years is now paying off despite the enormous challenges it inherited on inception. Our journey from field verifications, mobile verifications, to putting together a solid database of pensioners, benefit computation, ensuring the regular payment of monthly pensions and paying long overdue pension arrears to pensioners, has been a progressive one filled with creativity, dedication, commitment, persistence and resulting in milestone achievements.

“It is not yet a perfect situation, albeit PTAD is committed to continuing to make giant strides in the defined benefit scheme administration.

“Through the unwavering support of President Muhammadu Buhari, PTAD has completely liquidated the inherited unfunded liabilities of all the defunct/privatised agencies handed over to PTAD in 2017, with the exception of NITEL/MTEL with a balance of 36 months, which we are fully committed to liquidating.

She said in 2021, the directorate launched the “I AM Alive” confirmation solution in order to identify pensioners who are alive.

Ejikeme said the pilot phase was successfully completed when the application was tested on 50,000 randomly-selected pensioners from the four operational departments and the six geo-political zones.

She further said following the success of the pilot phase, the directorate, on April 14, 2023, fully rolled out the solution for the use of pensioners.

Ejikeme explained that to ensure effective delivery and prevent a heavy flow of traffic on the website, “we have staggered the availability of the confirmation solution according to departments”.

She added that the commitment of PTAD to the welfare of pensioners remains sacrosanct and shall continue meeting and engaging with the various pension unions to ensure quality service delivery.