House C’mmittee lauds PTAD on verification of NITEL / Mtel pensioners
The Chairman of the House of Representatives Committee on Pensions, Hassan Shekarau has said that the attestation by NITEL/Mtel pensioners on the ongoing verification exercise by the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) in Kano is an affirmation of the quality service rendered by the agency.
Hassan said this on Thursday in Kano during a surprise visit to the centre where the pensioners from adjoining states in the North West zone.
The lawmaker, who was there as part of oversight functions by the committee interacted with the pensioners and personnel of the agency to observe the conduct of the exercise.
Hon Shekarau said that he was pleased with the exercise describing it as another example of the well-organized procedures embarked upon by the Directorate.
He assured that the House would support the Directorate to hasten budgetary process for funds to be released to pay the pensioners their entitlements while advising the pensioners to adhere to the processes.
The Executive Secretary of PTAD, Barrister Sharon Ikeazor also monitored the exercise to ensure the exercise is a hitch-free.
The verification involved review of the pensioners documents, scanning and biometric capture as well as ensuring quality assurance towards computation of their entitlements.
The North West Zonal Chairman of NITEL Pensioners Association, Mr. Engineer Samuel Johnson expressed gratitude to the Federal Government for approving their verification after they had waited for many years.
He said that they were treated with dignity, proper care good welfare.
The chairman and coordinator of the association’s Kano territory, Mohammed Ishaq also said that their hopes have been restored towards receiving the retirement benefits.
Another pensioner, Akomoh Francis, who came from Gusau in Zamfara state where he has lived and worked for over 30 years, said he was so pleased to have been verified, having been assured of a thorough exercise.
The Kano centre which opened on Monday like those in Gombe and Abuja with huge turnout of pensioners had attended to about one thousand pensioners in three days.
However, the centre would not open on Saturday due to the Kano State Local Government elections scheduled for the day but will reopen on Monday as scheduled.
