20th November, 2017
The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) on Monday began the verification of pensioners of the defunct Delta Steel Company (DSC), Aladja and those of the Federal Housing Authority (FHA).
The verification is simultaneously being conducted in three centres of the country.
A statement released on Monday by the PTAD announced that the Abuja centre of the verification would run from Nov. 20 to 23, at the Trinity Event Centre in Maitama, Abuja.
It also said that Lagos centre would begin on Nov. 20 and end on the 24th at the Lagos NUT Pavilion in Ikeja, while Delta centre would hold at Wetland Event Centre in Aladja, from Nov. 20 to 28.
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) had, on May 2, received the approval for PTAD to take over the management of pension liabilities of pensioners of FHA from the President Buhari.
The approval came after the re-validation by the Federal Ministry of Finance on the pension liabilities of FHA in December 2016.
Mr Charles Wali PTAD’s Director of Parastatal Pensions, told newsmen that 4,900 pensioners from DSC and 750 from FHA were expected to be verified.
He said PTAD, on conclusion of the verification, would begin payment of arrears and monthly pensions of the verified pensioners of DSC and FHA.
He, however, said that the payment of the pensions would be subject to the budget provision and cash backing by the Federal Government.
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“Everything depends on budget provision and once there is a provision in the budget and the cash backing, immediately they will be paid.
“Yes there is four months arrears for the FHA pensioners, but for DSC, it is for years and this will be taken care of.“
He said PTAD had concluded the verification of other defunct agencies like NICON, and the New Nigeria Newspapers.
He said PTAD would subsequently conduct verification of pensioners of NITEL, Savanna Sugar Company, among other defunct agencies.
Earlier, a pensioner with FHA, Mrs Susan Dawa, told newsmen that she was happy that PTAD took over the management of FHA pension, adding that she was yet to be paid for four months.
“ I am expecting that at the end of the verification, henceforth there will be regular payment of our pensions and I am optimistic that FHA pensioners will also enjoy better service from PTAD.
Mr Effiong Bassey, a pensioner with the FHA, said that he retired since 17 years ago.
He said that it was cheery that PTAD had taken over the management of FHA pension, given its success stories.
“ I have been receiving pension until recently when we did not get paid for four months, FHA used to pay regularly until recently when we started having arrears.