By Jennete Ugo Anya
The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) on September 9, 2025, hosted members of the House of Representatives Committee on Pensions at its Abuja headquarters in what became both an accountability session and a celebration of progress in Nigeria’s pension administration.
The visit, led by the Committee Chairman, Honourable Jallo Hussaini Mohammed, formed part of the National Assembly’s statutory oversight functions. It offered lawmakers an opportunity to assess PTAD’s budget performance for 2024 and the first half of 2025 while also engaging with the agency’s reform agenda for the future.
Accountability in Focus
Welcoming the delegation, PTAD’s Executive Secretary, Mrs. Tolulope Odunaiya, expressed appreciation for the Committee’s consistent support. She noted that the oversight visit underscored the importance of transparency and collaboration in managing the entitlements of Nigeria’s Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS) pensioners.
“Our work is fundamentally about restoring dignity and fairness to our senior citizens who have served this country,” Mrs. Odunaiya said. “We cannot succeed without the trust and backing of the National Assembly, and today’s engagement reinforces that partnership.”
She presented a detailed breakdown of PTAD’s financial performance, pointing to the successful implementation of the 20% and 28% pension increment, which took effect from January 2024 and was fully integrated into the September 2024 payroll. She added that arrears from the increment had been cleared in record time, earning the Directorate commendation from pensioners’ associations nationwide.
Sustained Reforms, Ongoing Challenges
Mrs. Odunaiya further explained that PTAD had made progress in continuously offsetting arrears linked to previous increments of N32,000, 10.66%, and 12.95%. This, she said, was achieved by applying savings from balances left in the pension sub-head after meeting monthly obligations.
Looking ahead, she revealed that PTAD had secured Presidential approval for key pension-related items in the 2026 budget proposal. These include:
- Funding for the full implementation of the N32, 000 pension increment.
- Settlement of outstanding unfunded pension liabilities.
- Introduction of a pension harmonization policy to ensure fairness across sectors.
- Rollout of a health insurance scheme for DBS pensioners.
“These measures,” she said, “will not only reduce hardship among pensioners but also align pension administration with broader social protection reforms under the Renewed Hope Agenda.”
Despite these gains, Mrs.Odunaiya acknowledged persistent challenges – including funding constraints and the rising cost of meeting pension obligations – and called on lawmakers for legislative and budgetary support.
Lawmakers Commend PTAD
In his remarks, Honourable Jallo Hussaini Mohammed commended PTAD for the strides it had made in improving pension administration.
“We are impressed by the reforms you have implemented and the dedication you have shown to the welfare of our pensioners,” he said. “Pensioners are a national priority, and this Committee will continue to stand firmly with PTAD to ensure their entitlements are never compromised.”
The Chairman also reaffirmed the Committee’s readiness to push for adequate budgetary provisions to sustain reforms and ensure DBS pensioners benefit from policies that guarantee dignity in retirement.
Symbol of Renewed Trust
Observers at the meeting noted that the visit symbolized a renewed relationship between PTAD and the National Assembly. For pensioners, the assurances given by both sides carry strong implications: faster arrears clearance, stronger legal backing for reforms, and new welfare benefits such as health insurance coverage.
For many retirees, who have long endured hardship under the old Defined Benefits Scheme, PTAD’s steady progress offers hope of a system that works.
With the oversight engagement concluded, both PTAD and the Committee signaled a united front in pushing pension reform deeper into Nigeria’s governance priorities – a move that could finally secure the dignity of millions who built the foundation of the nation’s public service.
