Hopeful Enugu NOKs laud President, PTAD after validation exercise

The pension validation exercise held in the Enugu centre from the 18th to the 20th of February at the Police Officers Mess Enugu, No. 80 Agbani Road, Enugu, has ended successfully.

The Next-of-Kin (NOKs) of the parastatals' pensioners thanked the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) and President Buhari for remembering them after the last government of Goodluck Jonathan ignored them totally.

Speaking to newsmen, the PTAD Head of Communications, Theodora Amechi said "Overall, the validation held at six (6) centers in five states, namely Gombe, Kaduna, Enugu, Lagos and Edo) and Abuja, covering the geo-political zones of the Federal Republic of Nigeria."

Also Kukogho Iruesiri Samson, a PTAD Communications Officer, who was spoken to at the Enugu center said some of those captured were impersonators and not original Next-of-Kin of the pensioners.

Kukogho also said there may be an extension of the exercise for those who missed it.

Emeka, a Next-of-Kin of one of the late pensioners said “We have been pursuing my father’s gratuity and pension since around 2005.

“I was happy when I heard that PTAD was coming because I have heard of how other people got their monies from them, after many years of delay.

“We have been waiting for too long. I hope they will pay very soon.”

Another Next-of-Kin, Okpodu Akor said “We thought that the PENCOM verification was the end, but we got nothing. We hope that PTAD will be different and that they will pay soon.”

A woman who spoke under anonymity also said “The last government came and went without paying us a kobo since my husband died."

"I have grown old waiting for this money, which has now lost its value. But I am hopeful

“We hope this will be the last time," She added.

Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) is a government agency responsible for the pension administration of the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS).