The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has explained the few days delay in monthly pension payment that barely occurs to pensioners.

The Executive Secretary, Tolulope Odunaiya stated that pension payments are remitted through the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) directly into individual accounts of pensioners.

She, however, said that the Directorate has finalised August payment.

She stressed that it has no control over the payments but reassured that the payments are taken as a priority by the Federal Government.

Odunaiya further reiterated the Directorate’s commitment to pensioners’ welfare.

She said various initiatives have been introduced, noting that they are aimed at managing pension benefits for Federal Government’s retirees under the old Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS), who did not transit to the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).

She said: “The Directorate was established to handle pensions of those who did not move to the CPS, noting that PTAD ensures that eligible pensioners receive their pensions promptly and accurately.

“Since establishment of PTAD in 2013, and up till this moment, PTAD has never failed to pay pensions every month. That is why we have been able to take pensioners out of the streets. That is one of the credibility the government is enjoying because nobody is diverting money meant for payment of pensions anymore.

“The Directorate has continued to introduce various initiatives to enhance its efficiency and effectiveness, some of which are Field Verification, I Am Alive Confirmation, and Mobile Verification. As we progressed, we discovered that we shouldn’t be calling our fathers and mothers, especially those from a far distance to come and do verification in Lagos and a technology was introduced. We call that technology ‘I Am Alive’ Confirmation”.

She continued: “Once you are still alive, you are entitled to your pension. I Am Alive enables pensioners to confirm their status even in their home at every location. This is done through an internet-enabled phone and anybody can help you do it. Once you confirm your status, in the next six month, your pension will continue to run. “We have introduced Mobile Verification for people who are sick, or those who are alive but are incapacitated to attend normal verification. We schedule mobile confirmation for those who have done I Am Alive verification but later falls sick.’’

The PTAD ES further said PTAD is a Federal Government’s treasury funded agency with no commercial bank account, adding that their responsibility is to prepare schedules of pension payment.

“PTAD doesn’t have any account in any commercial bank; so, we don’t keep any money because we are a treasury-funded agency. Pensions are paid by the Central Bank and are paid directly into pensioners’ accounts. Our duty is to prepare the schedules of payment and it will pass through various tables, including Federal auditors, Internal auditors, Accountant-General Office. So, it is not something that somebody will just wake up and say PTAD has money somewhere,” he explained.

She said PTAD is ensuring that nobody tampers with pensioners’ money. PTAD offices are in 13 states. (THE NATION)