The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for the reappointment of Dr. Chioma Nnenna Ejikeme as the Executive Secretary of the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD).
Speaking on behalf of the committee of Zonal chairmen from the North Central, North East, and North West in Kaduna on Friday, the Vice President of NUP, North West, Alh. Muhammad Dankande, expressed that Dr. Ejikeme’s reappointment was well-deserved.
The NUP leaders noted that during her first tenure, the PTAD boss demonstrated dedication and hard work, implementing numerous reforms that significantly improved the lives of pensioners under the Defined Benefits Scheme (DBS).
“We strongly believe that her second tenure will provide her with the opportunity to build upon the achievements of her first tenure and further enhance services for the benefit of DBS pensioners.”
The NUP officials emphasized that Dr. Ejikeme had cleared the backlog of pension arrears and pension liabilities. “She managed to clear the backlog of pension arrears of pensioners under the Civil Service Pension Department, resulting from the nationwide verification carried out between 2015 and 2017.”
Furthermore, she successfully addressed pension liabilities of defunct agencies such as Delta Steel Company (DSC), Aluminium Smelter Company (ALSCON), New Nigerian Newspapers (NNN), NICON Insurance Corporation, Nigerian Re-Insurance Corporation, Nigeria National Shipping Line (NNSL), Assurance Bank, and NITEL, previously managed by the Board of Trustees/Insurance. These liabilities were significantly settled with repatriated funds from Crown Agents Investment Company in the United Kingdom, with the approval of former President Muhammadu Buhari, GCFR.
The NUP officials also praised Ejikeme for paying the Death Benefits to the Next-of-Kin of Deceased Pensioners and for disbursing gratuities to retirees who had not been paid before PTAD took over the management of DBS.
Moreover, Dr. Ejikeme implemented and paid two (2) years of arrears resulting from the Consequential Adjustment to Pension due to the implementation of the Minimum Wage for workers in April 2019.
In conclusion, they expressed confidence that during her next four years in office, Dr. Ejikeme would continue to build upon the successes of her first tenure, addressing remaining issues and liabilities.
. TheWitness
