From Uche Usim & Nsisong Morgan, Abuja
The Executive Secretary of the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAF), Sharon Ikeazor, has expressed joy that the verification of all pensioners and Next- of- Kins (NoKs) from the North Eastern part of Nigeria was implemented and successfully concluded without incident or infractions.
She added that the agency was now administering the pensions of about 223,000 pensioners from four different pension sectors, which is 63,000 higher than 160,000 it had in inception.
In press briefing in Abuja, she said the increase was largely due to the swift consolidation of 253 parastatals and agencies under PTAD.
According to her, more agencies were coming onboard and that the numbers of pensioners are expected to increase.
She noted that PTAD did not inherit a credible database from any of the pension offices it took over from.
“There were nominal rolls but no complete database. The lack of the database and information on pensioners in general makes it very difficult to resolve complaints. However, through the on-going verification exercise, it’s much better”, she said.
Ikeazor revealed that 55,400 pensioners have been verified under the Civil Service nationwide, noting that in the South-South region, 21,123 representing a capture rate of 91 per cent.