The Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP) has appealed to the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) to extend the deadline set by the agency to delete the names of pensioners who are yet to confirm their aliveness from monthly pension payroll.
The appeal followed an earlier letter by PTAD, informing NUP of an impending action plans to remove 44,772 Civil Service Pensioners who have not confirmed their aliveness in the new internet based confirmation system.
“As you may be aware, the Directorate commenced the IAAC exercise with the view of establishing a simple, convenient, cost effective and systematic platform for the Pensioners to routinely confirm their aliveness status and thus enable the continued receipt of their monthly pension.
“The IAAC exercise for CSPD Pensioners commenced on 1st July 2023 and based on the current Six (6) months timeline /frequency, will end on 31st January, 2024.
“In view of this, the Directorate has compiled a list of 44,772 CSPD Pensioners who as at date are yet to carry out their confirmation for your records.
“We therefore solicit your help to reach out to the affected Pensioners, through your State Branches and Zonal Offices, and advise them to carry out the confirmation accordingly,” PTAD had said.
NUP, in its response authored by its General Secretary, Elder Actor Zal, said: “We do appreciate your concern at saving costs for the nation and your interest at serving the pensioners to the fullest.
“However, we are of the view that this is really not the best of time to remove anyone’s name from the payroll for whatever reason, considering the mood of the nation as at now and the effect of subsidy removal that is biting very hard on every home.
“Please note that this office is not in anyway supporting fraud or payments to ghost pensioners, but we are only sincerely appealing for enough time on behalf of real and genuine pensioners.
“You may wish to consider the Union’s appeal in the interest of our partnership. Please, be-assured always of our highest and warm regards.”
NUP also noted that removal of pensioners for this reason this critical period will be counter productive as may be spark a nationwide protest.
