By Nana Musa-Umar
The Executive Secretary, Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), Dr Chioma Ejikeme has announced plans to reinstate unverified diaspora pensioners on the pension payroll.
This is contained in a statement issued on Friday by the head, PTAD Corporate Communications, Mr Gbenga Ajayi in Abuja.
Ejikeme announced the reinstatement of the unverified diaspora pensioners after the Agency concluded it’s nationwide pensioners verification exercise.
The PTAD boss has directed that the pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS) be reinstated on the payroll.
Recalls that affected pensooners were suspended from the payroll as a result of being unverified and living in the diaspora.
Ejikeme, however, explained that the suspended pensioners must renew their “Aliveness Certificate” from the Nigerian High Commission where they reside.
She said that must be done to ascertain their aliveness since they were yet to be enrolled to participate in the “I Am Alive” verification exercise for verified pensioners.
Ejikeme said that those who were not verified were dropped from the pension payroll with the exception of diaspora and sick pensioners.
She said the policy and procedure that would guide the validation of diaspora pensioners has been put in place.
“ In this regard, pensioners living in the diaspora, who were previously on the inherited payroll from August 2015, will be reinstated to the diaspora payroll pending their physical verification.
“However, they must submit copies of the under listed documents to complaints@ptad.gov.ng: Letter of first appointment, letter of last promotion, letter of acceptance of retirement.
“Also, bank statement showing last pension received, BVN slip with photograph, valid means of, identification and I Am Alive Certification from the Nigerian High Commission or Notarized letter confirming aliveness,” Ejikeme said.
She said that all the diaspora pensioners were required to send an updated Aliveness Certificate after every six months of the last issue to the directorate.
Ejikeme said that they would continue to receive their monthly pension and failure to do so would result to their suspension from the pension payroll.
