Fakoyejo OlalekanThe House of Representatives have stated that it will investigate the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) for failure to pay pension to Federal Civil Service retirees.
According to the lawmaker, Sergius Ose-Ogun, from Edo state, who moved the motion for a probe, PTAD is owing the Federal Civil Service retirees nine months pensions and gratuities, which the legislature said is unacceptable.
PTAD had claimed that the failure to pay the retirees is due to technological glitches in the domain of the Accountant-General of the Federation and Government Integrated Financial Management System (GIFMIS).
The lawmaker said such glitches show the gross incompetence and ineffectiveness on the part of PTAD, and in light of the revelation, the House of Reps has began a probe, which will span four weeks.
The first action in the investigation is the summon of the Executive Secretary of PTAD, Director-General of the National Pension Commission (PENCOM), Accountant-General of the Federation, as well as the Head of Service of the Federation.
They are expected to give account for the non-payment of pensions and gratuities to Federal Civil Servants retirees for nine months.
What the lawmaker said
Ose-Ogun’s motion reads, “The House notes that Section 88 (1) and (2) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) empowers the National Assembly to conduct investigations into the activities of any authority executing or administering laws made by the National Assembly;
“Aware that Section 14(2) (b) of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 (as amended) provides that the security and welfare of the people of Nigeria shall be the primary purpose of government;
“Also aware that Section 32(b) of the Pension Reform Act Cap P4 Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004 saddles the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) with the responsibility of carrying out functions aimed at ensuring the welfare of pensioners;
“Informed that pensioners under the defined benefits scheme of the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) are reportedly owed monthly pensions and gratuities for a cumulative period of nine (9) months;
“Disturbed by the claim that the failure of the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) to pay pensioners under the Defined Benefits Scheme for the said period of nine (9) months is as a result of technological glitches;
“Cognisant that the failure of the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) to pay pensioners’ monthly pensions and gratuities based on technological glitches amount to gross incompetence and ineffectiveness on the part of PTAD;
“Also cognisant that the claim by PTAD that the technological glitches which caused it to be in arrears of pension and gratuities are in the domain of the Accountant-General of the Federation and Government Integrated Financial Management System (GIFMIS) is unacceptable.”
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