Poor documentation and fraud have been identified as major issues confronting Nigerian pensioners today.
The Chairman of the Senate Committee on Establishment and Public Service, Ibrahim Shekarau, stated yesterday in Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, that all pension administrators are working to resolve the issues.
The senator, who represents Kano Central senatorial district, spoke after a closed-door session for the National Assembly Committees on Pensions, Budget and Appropriation, and Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate at a one-week retreat (PTAD).
“I think they’re trying to see how they can perfect the records, because it’s not just giving out money like that, but developing the correct documentation, because if you don’t have the correct documentation, the problem will persist,” he says. Not all next of kin will be sincere enough to report when a pensioner dies in order to continue receiving the pension.
“Also, some fraudsters in various agencies will refuse to report dead pensioners in order to continue receiving his pension. And we are urging government agencies to improve their staff documentation and educate retirees on what to do in the months leading up to their retirement.”
The committee was pleased with the actions taken by the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate to address the challenges in the Nigerian pension sector.
Shekarau stated that the stakeholders’ meeting was initiated by the Committee on Establishment and Public Service in order to rob minds with the agency in order to understand their challenges and what they are doing in relation to their projected budget.
“We had a closed-door session where we encouraged the stakeholders because it makes our work a lot easier,” he explained. Traditionally, they (PTAD) will come to present their budget in the next couple of months-October, November-and we will be able to understand where they are coming from.”
