LAGOS – The Minister of Finance, Zainab Ahmed has expressed concern over the 42 months pension backlog owed by the Federal Government, saying that the Federal Government is committed to ensuring that all pension backlogs are cleared.

According to her, she is working with Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) and relevant government agencies to make sure that backlog of outstanding pension arrears are cleared.

PTAD said in a statement issued recently noted that the Federal Government has regularly made monthly pension payments to all retirees under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS) on PTAD payroll.

“The attention of Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has been drawn to calls by the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) and the Federal Universities Pensioners Association (FUPA) over the non-payment of the balance of the 12 and 36 months arrears respectively of the 33% pension increase to pensioners.”

“For the record,” it added, “the backlog of the 33 percent pension arrears has been owed since 2010 as a fall out of the upward review of the minimum wage to N18, 000.00. Though the increment had been approved, it was not implemented immediately thus creating accumulated arrears of 42 months.”

“PTAD commenced payment of the 33 percent pension payment increase in October 2014 and ensured that all arrears for the year 2014 were paid in December 2014.

In 2016, the backlog of the 33 percent pension arrears for the Customs, Immigration and Prisons Pension Department was fully paid. In the same year, 12 months pension arrears were paid to pensioners under Civil Service, Police, Parastatals Pension Departments.

In November 2017, the Federal Government through PTAD, further paid 6 months arrears across board to pensioners under Civil Service, Police and Parastatals Pension Departments”.

SOURCE: http://www.flowbaze.com/2018/11/finance-minister-expresses-concern-over.html