Nigerian government approves pension increment to reflect national minimum wage

The Nigerian Government has approved the payment of the consequential adjustment to pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS) in line with the minimum wage approved in 2019.

Penpushing reports that the Executive Secretary, Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), Chioma Ejikeme made this known at a press conference on Friday in Abuja, the Federal Capital Territory(FCT)

The Executive Secretary disclosed that President Muhammed Buhari gave the approval, adding that Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) had been empowered to start the upward adjustment of all pensioners’ benefits according to the approved template.

Penpushing further reports that, she explained that the adjustment of the new pension payment would start from May 2021, adding that the payment of the arrears would cover the period of the implementation of the minimum wage.

“The arrears from April 2019 will be paid along with the pensioners’ monthly benefit starting from May 2021 payroll. On April 22, a statement was released to inform the public of the president’s sincerity to implement the consequential adjustment on the pension benefits through PTAD”.

“I emphasise that the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) has no reason to go on protest because the matter has been finalised. True to that statement, we are here today to confirm that the consequential adjustment will be implemented from May 2021 payroll’, she said.

“As a responsible agency of government saddled with the responsibility of overseeing the payment of pension benefits to pensioners under the DBS and their welfare, we are encouraged to do more for our pensioners. And we will continue to strive to improve the quality of their lives,” she said.

Penpushing also reports that, Ejikeme assured that Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), would not request the senior citizens to pay any gratification to anybody before they receive their money.

The executive secretary of the agency advised the pensioners not to give their account details to anybody, and to report any scammer to any of the security agencies or Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD).

“We have concluded arrangements to send SMS to all pensioners, informing them of the payment and to caution them on the activities of the pension scammers. The time has come for DBS pensioners to continue to eat the fruits of their labour. We appeal to pension unions to always cooperate with the directorate in order to further facilitate better welfare opportunities for our pensioners,” Ejikeme added.

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