FG records hitch-free pension verification in Lagos

By Uche Usim

The Federal Government recently recorded a hitch-free pensioners’ verification exercise for its workers in Lagos despite the large turnout.
The two-week programme, organised by the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), was meant to fully capture genuine retirees while weeding out ghost pensioners from the payroll.
The verification was part of the second and third phases of the exercise for retired civil service pensioners in the South West zone under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS).
Executive secretary of PTAD, Sharon Ikeazor, who declared the exercise open at 8am, said it would last for two weeks, starting from September 18 to 29, 2017.
Ikeazor said that the verification exercise would take place simultaneously at five different locations for efficiency: Alausa, Yaba, Ketu, Amuwo Odofin and Agege.
At the Agege centre, PTAD fortified the verification centre with armed security personnel to ward off impostors and fraudsters who may want to pose as pension consultants to fleece the retirees. About 4,259 pensioners are expected to be verified and captured in the database of the agency in Agege.
Ikeazor, while commenting on the exercise, expressed satisfaction that the exercise had been largely successful and the retirees were complying accordingly.
She put the number of pensioners to be captured on the first day of the exercise in Agege at 750, even as she assured them that government was fully committed to ensuring that all eligible pensioners in the country were captured and paid accordingly.
One of the pensioners, Alhaji Animasaun Wasiu, appreciated government’s effort in ensuring the verification was orderly and rancor-free.
Wasiu said, “I thank the federal government for this exercise; as you can see it is very orderly. They have information even at the gate for you to know your eligibility status. From the gate, you will know whether you are qualified to be verified and paid the pension or not. So, if you don’t meet the listed conditions, you simply go back because you don’t have any business going into the venue.
“That alone reduced the crowd and, while inside, there are enough staff to attend to pensioners, and that reduced tension and made the exercise hitch-free. The government served us refreshments and that was commendable.”
Another pensioner, Mr. Wale Oke, described the arrangement as adequate because there were different sections for different categories of issues to be addressed. He urged the management of PTAD to keep up the template and ensure all eligible pensioners are registered.
Oke said, “Government wants to stop ghost pensioners with this exercise and that is commendable. Though I came from a very far place, I had to be here to ensure I was captured. This is commendable.”