By Nana Musa
The Executive Secretary (ES) of Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), Tolulope Odunaiya has introduced mobile ‘I AM ALIVE’ confirmation solution.
This was contained in a statement issued by PTAD Head, Corporate Communications, Mr Olugbenga Ajayi in Abuja on Tuesday.
He said that the ES announced the policy review of the I Am Alive confirmation solution by introducing a Mobile ‘I Am alive’ confirmation to support pensioners.
Odunaiya said that it was for those whom could not validate their life status using either facial or fingerprint due to disabilities or health challenges should apply to PTAD for a Mobile “I Am Alive” confirmation.
She said the application would be done by filling an online form made available on the PTAD website, including the following attachments: Pictures/video of pensioner, Medical Report and Pensioner Verification Slip.
The ES said that upon the application approval by the appropriate signatory, a Mobile “I Am Alive” confirmation would be carried out by a scheduled visit to the pensioners’ address.
”Where a scheduled visit to the pensioners’ address is not feasible, a Video conference call with the pensioner can be carried out.
”However, for diaspora pensioners who are unverified on payroll, a certificate of aliveness from the Nigerian Embassy or Nigerian High Commission in the country of residence should be submitted by the pensioner every 6 months as a form of validating status of life,” Odunaiya said.
The ES said that the directorate does not charge pensioners’ any fees for its services, it is free.
”Therefore, under no circumstance will a ‘fee for service’ be charged to pensioners directly or indirectly for the use of the application to confirm the status of their aliveness.
”All service support staff should show empathy with pensioners when assisting them with the application, bearing in mind that as most are not technology savvy and will need to be guided carefully and gently,” Odunaiya said.
She said that State offices would not operate as Agent centers, they would not provide office- based I Am Alive confirmation services to walk- in pensioners using fingerprint scanners.
”They must be scheduled from headquarters and make themselves available on the agreed dates to complete the process.
”Thus, the state officers will only give guidance, take inquiries, resolve complaints, and document complaints they need to escalate to the headquarters,” Odunaiya said.
The ES urged the Unions and Pension Desk officers to act as intermediaries or focal officers between the directorate and its pensioners for first line enquiries and complaints resolution.
She urged them on the Implementation of Know-Your-pensioners (KYP) activities that would assist PTAD with obtaining credible information on pensioners for better service support, assist pensioners to understand the processes.
Also, the regularity of performing the I Am Alive Confirmation, sending of complaints to the directorate on behalf of other pensioners, providing feedback on PTAD’s policy initiatives including the I Am Alive Confirmation solution to ensure improvement in service delivery.
”All pensioners are expected to confirm their aliveness on PTAD “I Am alive” confirmation platform once every six months or as determined by management from time to time for them to continue to enjoy their monthly pension.
”Pensioners who fail to confirm their ‘I Am Alive’ status will be dropped from the payroll and moved to the “Likely deceased pool” until such dropped pensioners re confirmed his/her aliveness to be reinstated to the payroll,” Odunaiya said.
