PTAD Moves to Avert Pensioners’ Protest, Engages Union Leaders
By Alabidun Shuaib AbdulRahman
The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has moved to quell growing agitation among a section of retirees by holding an emergency engagement with leaders of key pension unions in Abuja.
INCNews247 reports that, the meeting, chaired by the Executive Secretary of PTAD, Tolulope Odunaiya, brought together officials of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP) and the Federal Parastatals and Private Sector Pensioners Association of Nigeria (FEPPPAN), alongside senior management of the Directorate on Wednesday.
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PTAD said the session became necessary following reports that a faction of pensioners was mobilising for a protest, including what was described as a planned “naked demonstration,” over concerns relating to arrears and welfare benefits.
Odunaiya warned that such a protest could undermine efforts currently being made to improve the welfare of retirees under the Defined Benefit Scheme, stressing that the dignity of pensioners must not be compromised.
She outlined PTAD’s recent interventions, including the implementation of the ₦32,000 minimum wage pension adjustment, the 10.66% and 12.95% approved pension increments, as well as the securing of a ₦45 billion emergency budgetary allocation to settle outstanding arrears.
On the widespread enquiries about the proposed ₦25,000 palliative for pensioners, Odunaiya clarified that the scheme falls under the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation.
She said PTAD is in touch with the Ministry and will relay updates to pensioners as soon as they are available.
Leaders of NUP and FEPPPAN at the meeting distanced their organisations from the proposed protest and reaffirmed their preference for dialogue.
They encouraged pensioners to channel their complaints through recognised structures rather than resorting to public demonstrations.
Odunaiya, in her closing remarks, assured the unions of improved communication and more structured engagement to ensure that pensioners are well-informed and their concerns promptly addressed.
