Directorate lauds Buhari's un-written first-line charge policy on pension

• Published date: 11 January 2023
• Publication title: Nigeria - The Nation

The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has praised President Muhammadu Buhari for prioritising pensioners' welfare and making pension payment of the Defined Benefits Scheme (DBS) an unwritten first-line charge from the inception of his administration till date.

Its Executive Secretary, Dr Chioma Ejikeme, spoke during an engagement with stakeholders in Abuja.

She stated that Buhari's policy on prompt payment of DBS pensioners monthly pension and the resolve of the Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Zainab Ahmed, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and other stakeholders to implementing the President's policy on pension matters, are the bedrock of the many successes the Directorate has achieved.

Dr Ejikeme noted that the agency is working hard and changing the narrative in the management and administration of DBS pension, which has been made possible because of the commitment of the President, Minister of Finance and others.

PTAD has made landmark achievements, which include completion of the payment of arrears arising as a result of the consequential adjustment to pensions as a result of the increase in minimum wage of April 2019 to the four departments in the Directorate; completed liquidation of the 126 former workers of Nigeria Reinsurance Corporation.

She added that the Directorate also completed payment of the 219 months of inherited liabilities to former workers of New Nigeria Newspaper Limited; and completed payment of the 100 months of inherited liabilities to ex-workers of NICON Insurance; completed payment of the 96 months of inherited liabilities to ex-workers of Delta Steel Company (DSC); implemented the 9.7 per cent increment to former PHCN workers with attendant arrears paid; and made part-payment of the arrears owed NITEL/MTEL pensioners.

She said: 'Two weeks ago, we paid another 15-month arrears to 5,907 pensioners out of the...