December 07, (THEWILL) – The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), has expressed appreciation to President Muhammadu Buhari, for the successes recorded in pension administration in Nigeria.
Dr. Chioma Ejikeme, Executive Secretary PTAD, said this in Calabar during a Stakeholders Engagement Forum organised for pensioners in the South-South Zone of the country.
She said the president has prioritized the welfare of pensioners in the country and advised prisoners to engage with contestants at the federal and state level, to know who has an interest in their welfare.
She said this is important because the pensioners need to have a president, who listens and the country cannot afford to go back to the time when pensioners were owed for months.
“PTAD is grateful to President Muhammadu Buhari, who since the inception of his administration, has made pensions an un-written first line charge and all our other major stakeholders, who have made the modest successes achieved by PTAD possible.
“As we enter the campaign and election season, it is pertinent that pensioners should engage the contestants at the Federal and State levels, to find out their position or antecedents in pension management, and get a firm commitment from them regarding the welfare of pensioners.
“The need to have a President who listens to the needs of pensioners cannot be overemphasized.
“We cannot afford to go back to the time when the DBS pensioners were owed months of pension arrears and their needs pushed to the back burner.
“We sincerely hope that the next administration, and who emerges as the
President, will be as favourably disposed towards the pensioners of the Defined Benefit Scheme as the administration of President Muhammadu
Buhari”, she said.
She added that through the unwavering support of President Muhammadu Buhari, PTAD has completely liquidated the “inherited unfunded liabilities of all the
Defunct/Privatized agencies handed over to us, with the exception of NITEL/MTEL, which we are fully committed to liquidating.”
Speaking further, Ejikeme explained that their journey has been a progressive one filled with creativity, dedication, commitment, persistence and milestone achievements.
She advised pensioners against patronizing pension fraudsters, saying “no staff of PTAD will call or send any message requesting for payment or to call a certain phone number before your arrears or gratuity will be paid.”
Comrade Benjamin Ettah, the National Vice President South-South of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), in his response, said the achievements of the PTAD have been wonderful.
He thanked the President for taking interest in the welfare of pensioners adding that the NUP has resolved to honour him for his concern for pensioners’ welfare.
Also speaking, Dr. Margaret Idiong, a 2007 retiree from the University of Uyo Teaching Hospital, said the narrative has changed with PTAD.
About the Author
THEWILL Correspondent, Aniekan Bassey has over six years experience that spans across several fields in print journalism including development communication, sexual reproductive and health rights issues, crime, climate change, social justice, business and human interest stories.
