PTAD, Military Pension Board collaborate to improve pensioners’ welfare
In a continuous effort to improve the welfare of pensioners in Nigeria, the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) and the Military Pension Board (MPB) have strategized on the better ways to ensure enhance their operations.
The Executive Secretary of PTAD, Sharon Ikeazor while receiving the Military Pension Board management team led by its Chairman, Brig. Gen. Adekunle Adigun Adesope during a courtesy visit to her office on Tuesday, said that improving the welfare of pensioners is the reason for the establishment of the two agencies.
Ikeazor pointed out that there was a fierce urgency for stronger partnership between the two pension agencies.
She said that part of the collaboration was to “synergize the advocacy efforts of our pension Agencies towards ensuring that adequate budgetary allocations are made to defray the outstanding liabilities of all pensioners, Military and Civilian.”
The new paradigm being proposed, sought to create additional values that can be leveraged upon to deliver more value in Nigeria’s pension administration to the benefit of the pensioner and ultimately, the Nigerian society, she said.
According to the Executive Secretary, there is need for continuous stakeholder engagement in order to broaden and deepen PTAD’S relationship and outreach to its external stakeholders, especially those with coordinate responsibilities such as the Nigerian Military Pensions Board.
The pension administration matrix must be improved to match contemporary initiatives in other parts of the world so that Nigeria’s pensioners also can access additional practical values and deliverables with those described as “senior citizens” in other climes.
The PTAD boss said that the Directorate was now enthused in finding new ways in improving the welfare of pensioners in not only the short-term, but also the long –term.
Ikeazor who harped on the exigency of exchange of information on activities of pension fraudsters and formation of alliance on how to deal with them, stressed that enrolment of all Pensioners into the NHIS would drive down their cost of healthcare.
“It is also meant to ensuring the payment of all outstanding pension benefits especially the arrears of 33% increment and death benefits to NOKs; prompt payment of monthly pensions to all eligible pensioners; and uniform treatment of all pensioners including the War Affected.
The issuance of combo cards to all pensioners that will serve both as discount cards and means of establishing the Proof of Life. I commend the leadership of the Military Pensions Board in that initiative; and the exchange of ideas and technology towards improving operational efficiency,” she added.
Earlier in his response, the Chairman of the Military Pension Board, Brig. Gen. Adesope commended the Executive Secretary of PTAD for the innovation she has brought to bear in the pension administration.
He said that the objective of the visit was to exchange ideas on the best approach to improve the welfare of pensioners in the country.
Adesope said that the MPB would henceforth provide the modalities to ensuring that their pensioners are adequately catered for during verification exercise with refreshments.
However, the MPB Chairman lamented the increasing cost of pension saying, “If I have my way, every month before I pay, I will make sure I do verification to ensure adequate and proper payment.”
Mathew Dadiya, Abuja
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