PTAD Says ₦32,000 Pension Increase Implemented, Clears Air on Alleged Arrears
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PTAD Says ₦32,000 Pension Increase Implemented, Clears Air on Alleged Arrears
By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman
The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has dismissed reports suggesting that the Federal Government failed to implement the recently approved pension increments for retirees under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS), saying the claims are misleading.
In a statement obtained by INCNews247, the Directorate said it was compelled to clarify the matter following reports of a planned protest by a group calling itself the Coalition of Federal Pensioners of Nigeria, which alleged non-payment of arrears and palliatives.
PTAD said the ₦32,000 pension increase, alongside the 10.66% and 12.95% adjustments, had been fully implemented following an emergency budgetary approval granted by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
It said payments took effect from the September 2025 payroll and have continued without interruption.
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The Directorate said despite limited fiscal space, it has been paying arrears in tranches, depending on available resources from the Federal Ministry of Finance.
INCNews247 reports that a breakdown of arrears cleared so far shows that the Parastatals Pension Department (PPD) has no outstanding months after completing 13 months; the Customs, Immigration and Prisons Pension Department (CIPPD) has cleared 11 months with two outstanding; the Police Pension Department (PaPD) has cleared seven months with six outstanding; while the Civil Service Pension Department (CSPD) has paid six months and has seven months left.
PTAD also listed several approvals earlier secured from the Presidency, including pension harmonisation to take effect from the 2026 budget, the inclusion of DBS pensioners in the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) from next year, and provision for longstanding unfunded liabilities of defunct agencies such as NITEL/MTEL.
“These far-reaching approvals demonstrate the Federal Government’s commitment to the welfare of pensioners under the Renewed Hope Agenda,” the Directorate said.
It faulted the claims by the self-styled Coalition of Federal Pensioners, insisting that the recognised unions – the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) and the Federal Parastatals and Private Sector Pensioners Association of Nigeria (FEPPPAN) – remain in constant communication with PTAD and are aware of the implementation stages.
On the alleged non-payment of the ₦25,000 palliative, PTAD said the allowance does not fall under its mandate, noting that it is the responsibility of the Social Safety Net Programme.
It added that the recognised unions are already engaging the appropriate agencies on behalf of their members.
The Directorate outlined its reforms since assuming responsibility for DBS pension administration in 2015, including prompt monthly payments, digitisation of pension records through BVN/NIN, the introduction of the “I Am Alive” verification system, and the settlement of inherited arrears across major pension departments.
It disclosed that the Federal Government has paid a cumulative ₦1.002 trillion in monthly pensions between 2015 and October 2025.
PTAD urged pensioners to rely only on official communication channels for verified updates and cautioned against misinformation capable of creating unnecessary tension.
“We remain committed to clearing the outstanding arrears as more funds are released by the Federal Government,” the statement added.
It called for continued dialogue and cooperation among pension stakeholders, saying constructive engagement remains the most effective way to safeguard pensioners’ welfare.
