Dr. Chioma Ejikeme
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Chuks Udo Okonta
The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has appealed to members of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) to shelve the planned protest scheduled to hold at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, tomorrow April 23, 2021.
A statement by the Head, Corporate Communications Unit, PTAD, Olugbenga Ajayi, said there is no justification for the protest after the meeting with PTAD Executive Secretary, Dr. Chioma Ejikeme.
The statement reads:
It has come to the attention of the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) that the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) at its 11th quadrennial Delegate Conference resolved to go on protest at the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, tomorrow 23rd April, 2021 because of the delay in the implementation of the consequential adjustment to the pension benefits occasioned by the recently approved minimum wage.
As a responsible Agency of government saddled with the responsibility of overseeing the payment of pension benefits to pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme and their welfare, we are encouraged to appeal to our respected Pensioners that there is no justification for the protest after the meeting with PTAD Executive Secretary, Dr. Chioma Ejikeme.
It will be recalled that the Directorate held a meeting with the National Executives of the Union led by Dr. Abel Afolayan on the 16th March, 2021 where the issue of the implementation of the pension adjustment was openly discussed and the Union gave their understanding. At the meeting, the ES told the Exco that the implementation is most likely to commence at the end of April, 2021 going by the submissions that had been made by all stakeholders.
However, there has been a little delay due to unforeseen circumstances but we believe the implementation can still start as early as May 2021.
Our Senior Citizens have nothing to fear because we have a President that has demonstrated greater commitment to the welfare of our Pensioners through PTAD more than any other President we have had in the past. Therefore, the issue of implementation will not be different. The matter is very important to the President.
We know the Pensioners have waited enough, although the issue of the Covid-19 played a significant role in the delay, we wish to encourage our Senior Citizens to trust that the consequential adjustment will be made without further delay. There is no reason for this protest.
