We’ve been consistent in payment 33% pension arrears – PTAD

The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has expressed concern over calls by the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) and the Federal Universities Pensioners Association (FUPA) on the non-payment of the balance of the 12 and 36 months arrears of the 33% pension increase to pensioners, saying it has been consistent in offsetting the arrears.

PTAD on Thursday stated that the backlog of the 33% pension arrears has been owed since 2010 as a fall out of the upward review of the minimum wage to N18, 000.00.

Though the increment had been approved, it was not implemented immediately, thus creating accumulated arrears of 42 months.

The agency said that it commenced payment of the 33% pension payment increase in October 2014 and ensured that all arrears for the year 2014 were paid in December 2014.

The statement reads in part: “In 2016, the backlog of the 33% pension arrears for the Customs, Immigration and Prisons Pension Department was fully paid.

In the same year, 12 months pension arrears was paid to pensioners under Civil Service, Police, Parastatals Pension Departments.

“In November 2017, the Federal Government through PTAD, further paid 6 months arrears across board to pensioners under Civil Service, Police and Parastatals Pension Departments.

“Recall that in August 24, 2018, the outstanding 33% pension arrears for the Police Pension Department (PPD) was cleared.

The summary of arrears from all the pension departments: Civil Service Pension Department (CSPD) which was owed 42 months received 30 months with an outstanding of only 12 months; Customs, Immigration and Prisons Pension Department (CIPPD) and Police Pension Department (PPD) have all been paid of the whole 42 months arrears.

Parastatals Pension Department (PaPD) were paid 18 months out of the 54 months owed with an outstanding of 36 months.”

According to PTAD, the Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed, is committed to ensuring that all pension backlogs are cleared and is working with PTAD and relevant government agencies to make sure that backlog of outstanding pension arrears are cleared.

The agency added that the Federal Government has regularly made monthly pension payments to all retirees under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS) on PTAD payroll.