Pensioners urge PTAD to address payment discrepancies

The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) has commended the federal government’s efforts to improve the welfare of retirees across the country.

In a statement signed by Godwin Abumisi, its national president, the union described the administration’s recent reforms as unprecedented steps toward alleviating the economic challenges faced by pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS).

Among the highlighted reforms are the approval of a 20 percent pension increase for DBS pensioners and the establishment of a minimum pension of ₦32,000. These measures, the NUP stated, reflect President Tinubu’s dedication to supporting retirees and safeguarding their rights.

“The 20 percent pension increase, backdated to January 2024, has been paid to many DBS pensioners, while the minimum pension of ₦32,000, approved in July 2024, has also reached several beneficiaries. This is the first of its kind that pensioners will receive any form of pension increase without protests in different forms. We hail you, Mr. President.”

The NUP also commended the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) and Tolulope Odunaiya, its new executive secretary, for ensuring the timely disbursement of pension increments.

“We appreciate her promise to ensure that the 20% pension increase is paid before the end of December 2024 and her strict implementation of President Tinubu’s policy direction on pensioners’ welfare,” the union noted.

Despite these achievements, the NUP highlighted ongoing discrepancies in the payment process. The union revealed that not all pensioners have received their entitlements, with 70 percent yet to benefit from the ₦32,000 minimum pension and some arrears from the 20% increment remain unpaid.

“We demand that PTAD pay serious attention to ensuring no DBS pensioner is omitted or deprived of their rights in the name of system failure or man-made error in the payment processes,” the statement read.

The union urged PTAD to rectify the issues promptly and ensure that all pensioners receive their rightful payments without delay.

Expressing gratitude to the government for the reforms, the NUP described the measures as a significant relief during challenging economic times. “The approval of these measures is a testament to the government’s understanding of the economic realities facing pensioners and its determination to provide relief,” the union said.

The NUP called on all stakeholders to work collaboratively to address the outstanding issues. They expressed optimism that the administration’s reforms would continue to improve the quality of life for retirees in Nigeria.