NAN-H-52
Pensioners
By Ariwodola Idowu
Ado-Ekiti, Aug.16, 2017 (NAN) The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) says its ongoing nationwide verification exercise is to identify genuine pensioners.
The Executive Secretary of the directorate, Mrs Sharon Ikeazor, said this on Wednesday in Ado Ekiti while monitoring the exercise.
She said that the Federal Government was desirous of paying its pensioners as at when due, adding that the exercise was vital to allow for update of records.
Ikeazor warned the pensioners against paying money to anyone during the exercise, saying they were only to present their vital documents for verification.
She also gave an assurance that there was zero tolerance for corruption in the handling of pensioners’ funds across the country.
The directorate, she said, currently has an anti- corruption unit being operated in collaboration with the ICPC to ensure there were no sharp practices.
Ikeazor commended the staff deployed for the exercise for the courteous manner they had been relating with the pensioners, especially the aged.
“All we are trying to do as a body is to make a departure from the ways things are done in the past and to let the pensioners know that their services to their fatherland is not in vain.
“As you can see, we provided chairs and tents, including refreshments for them, as against the old practice where you find pensioners queuing for hours under the sun,” she said.
A member of the state chapter of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners, Mr Babajide Olasehinde, commended the Federal Government over the exercise, saying it was smooth.
He, however, called for the quick disbursement of the fund recently approved by the Acting President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, for the settlement of outstanding pensions and liabilities.
NAN reports that the week-long exercise, which began on Monday at the Ado Ekiti centre, would end on Friday. (NAN)ARIS/IFY/OJO
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(Edited by Ify Omowole/Mufutau Ojo)