Pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS) have raised concerns over persistent delays in monthly pension payments by the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), alleging systemic inefficiencies and possible corruption within the agency.
According to the pensioners, for over five years, pensioners have reportedly endured delays of up to a week or more in receiving their pensions, contrary to a presidential directive issued in 2019 by former President Muhammadu Buhari mandating payments of pensions by the 28th day of each month.
It was gathered that despite assurances from PTAD, payments of pensioners now occur after the 30th to another month day of the month, with PTAD attributing the delays to technical issues with Nigeria’s GIFMIS system.
Investigation revealed that these delays have caused undue hardship for pensioners, many of whom rely on these funds for basic needs like food and medicine.
In addition to payment delays, pensioners accused PTAD of illegal and unauthorized deductions from their pensions for union dues, which they say violated their constitutional rights to freedom of association and assembly as they are not members or affiliates of the unions/ associations PTAD gave recognition.
“These deductions reportedly resumed in September 2024 after being halted in 2017 due to disputes among union executives.”
Pensioners also alleged that accrued arrears amounting to over ₦350 billion remain unpaid for over 7 years, with suspicions that these funds may be held in fixed deposits to generate interest for personal gains of PTAD, some government officials and the obnoxious union executives who have formed a gang up against the welfare of pensioners. Holding up their accrued entitlements’ arrears of over two decades to ransom albeit unlawfully in perpetuity.
The pensioners are now calling on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to investigate the activities of PTAD thoroughly since its creation in 2014 and address these issues as part of his “Renewed Hope Agenda” to save these vulnerable senior citizens from calculated extinction by anti government elements within the government.
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