The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) on Thursday blamed inadequate funding for their inability to meet obligations to pensioners
The Federal government had established PITAD in August 2013 in compliance with the provisions of Section 30 sub-section (2) (a) of the Pension Reform Act (PRA) of 2004 as amended in 2014.
The directorate is responsible for pension of Civil Service Pension Department CSPD, Police Pension Department (PPD), Customs, Immigration and Prisons Pension Department CIPPD
Others include the Treasury Funded Parastatals Pension Department (PaPD), as well as for Pension Support Services Department (PSSD)
But speaking at the PTAD north Central stakeholdersbe’ forum in Abuja, Sharon Ikeazor, Executive Secretary, PTAD, said the desire of the directorate to meet it’s obligation to the Nigeria pensioners has often times been hindered by lack of adequate funding.
According to her, “Funding to address our obligations to all our pensioners is a recurring challenge to the directorate, but we will continue to forge ahead as we have done in previous years”.
Ikeazor declared that preliminary feedback from the Pensioners satisfaction survey conducted has shown that a large number of pensioners are concerned about the timeliness and increment in their monthly pension adding that the increment will apply as soon as the minimum wage bill is passed into law.
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“The directorate is carrying out a pensioner satisfaction survey to guage the pulse of pensioners, measure their satisfaction as well as obtain the necessary feedback towards improving on service commitment”.
” The issue of increment will apply as automatically once the minimum wage bill is passed into law, as preliminary feedback from the survey has shown that a large number of pensioners are concerned about the timeless and increment in their monthly pension”.
Theodora Ameachi, policy and strategy unit, PTAD speaking on the future plans of the directorate said that the 2019-2021 activities are aimed at achieving a sustained optimal Pensioners satisfaction, stakeholder buy-in and collaboration, ensure efficient financial resources management among others.
She said “Our 2019-2020 future plans are hinged on three strategic priorities which includes strengthening of PTAD institutional framework through technology; ensuring prudent and efficient financial resources management and sustaining optimal pensioner satisfaction, stakeholder buy-in and collaboration”.
Abel Afolarin, president, Nigeria Union of Pensioners, commended the directorate for the numerous strides and efforts made to meet the need the of the Nigeria pensioners. “The Nigeria pensioners have never had it so good, we appreciate PTAD for all they have done to satisfy all Nigerian pensioners”.
” We are also aware of the untold hardship faced by some federal pensioners and we use this medium to encourage the directorate to address the situation”,. he added.
Cynthia Egboboh, Abuja.
