By Joy Odor, Abuja
The House of Representatives Committee on Pensions on Tuesday stormed the headquarters of the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) in Abuja in a high-stakes oversight visit to scrutinize the agency’s operations and budget performance.
Led by its Chairman, Hon. Jallo Hussaini Mohammed, the Committee grilled PTAD management on its implementation of pension reforms, especially the long-awaited increments and arrears owed to pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS).
Welcoming the lawmakers, PTAD’s Executive Secretary, Dr. Tolulope Odunaiya, rolled out a scorecard of the Directorate’s achievements, highlighting the successful integration of the 20/28% pension increment into the September 2024 payroll and the full settlement of accrued arrears.
She also disclosed that arrears for the N32,000 increment, alongside the 10.66% and 12.95% adjustments, were being steadily cleared from savings within the pension sub-head.
In a major revelation, Odunaiya announced that President Bola Tinubu had approved PTAD’s 2026 budget proposal to capture critical pension reforms.
These include full funding for the N32,000 increment, settlement of unfunded liabilities, a long-touted pension harmonization policy, and health insurance coverage for retired civil servants under the DBS.
But she admitted that PTAD still faces serious challenges, appealing for stronger legislative backing to sustain reforms.
“Our commitment to Nigeria’s pensioners is unwavering, but we need continued support from the National Assembly to overcome systemic hurdles,” Odunaiya told lawmakers.
Responding, Hon. Hussaini Mohammed praised PTAD’s progress but stressed that the House would not compromise on accountability or the welfare of pensioners.
“We will keep PTAD on its toes, because the dignity of our senior citizens is non-negotiable,” he declared.
The visit underscores growing pressure on PTAD to deliver on pension promises, as lawmakers sharpen scrutiny ahead of the 2026 budget cycle.
