News
FG Pays N23bn To Pensioners In Three Months
About N22.45billion was paid to pensioners by the Federal Government under the Defined Benefit Scheme between January and March this year.
Figures obtained from the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate showed that the amount was paid to pensioners that were confirmed as genuine retirees after the recent verification.
An analysis of the amount showed that N6.66billion was paid to civil service pensioners; N12.25billion to parastatal pensioners; N1.86billion to the Customs, Immigration and Prisons Pension Office; and N1.68billion for police pensioners.
Statistics from PTAD showed that during the three month period, N2.21billion was paid in January to 111,525 civil service pensioners and 219 retired permanent secretaries and head of service; N2.2billion was paid in February to 111,507 civil service pensioners and 218 retired permanent secretaries while N2.2billion was paid in March to 111, 484 civil service pensioners.
For civil servants under the Treasury Funded Parastatals Pension Department, the sum of N2.12billion was paid to 111,525 pensioners in January; in February and March, they had N2.21billion and N2.2billion, respectively.
Speaking on the development, the Executive Secretary, PTAD, Sharon Ikeazor, said that the Federal Government had yet to clear the outstanding 33 per cent arrears for civil service pensioners (12 months outstanding), parastatal pensioners (18-36 months outstanding) and police (12 months outstanding).
She said the directorate had been doing everything possible to clear the outstanding pensions, adding that the arrears of paramilitary pensioners had been cleared in full.
The PTAD boss said that the agency was implementing a comprehensive data management system.
Ikeazor said under the data management system, over 19,000 pensioners whose accounts did not have the required Bank Verification Number were identified and suspended from the government payroll.
She added that the pensioners that were suspended for lack of the BVN would only be reinstated after providing their BVN and undergoing due verification.
She said a continuous quality assurance process would be applied to identify any unqualified pensioner on the pension database.
Apart from the 19,000 pensioners without the BVN, Ikeazor said that about 22,021 who did not show up during the nationwide verification had been suspended from the payroll.
She said: “PTAD has successfully added 7,969 verified civil service pensioners to the payroll. These are pensioners who were verified in the South-West and North-Central in Q4 2017.
“Before this addition, over 19,500 verified civil service pensioners from the North-West, South-East, North-East and South-South had been reinstated and paid their arrears.
“Also ongoing is the computation of benefits for over 5,000 verified civil service pensioners. This will conclude the payroll of all verified civil service pensioners.
“We have also added over 700 verified parastatal pensioners from the Federal Housing Authority to the payroll to begin to receive monthly pensions.”
The Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lt.-Gen. Waidi Shaibu, has tasked troops of Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD to dominate the battlespace and intensify offensive operations against kidnappers, bandits and other criminal elements in the North Central region.
Shaibu gave the directive yesterday during his maiden operational visit to the Headquarters, Joint Task Force North Central (JTF-NC), at Sobi Barracks, Ilorin.
This is contained in a statement by the Acting Director, Army Public Relations, Col. Appolonia Anele, in Abuja, yesterday.
Shaibu said the Nigerian Army would remain resolute in its constitutional responsibility of safeguarding lives and property, stressing that troops must sustain pressure to decisively deny criminal elements freedom of action.
He assured personnel of continued deployment of combat enablers and operational resources to enhance clearance operations and dismantle criminal hideouts across Kwara and Niger states.
The COAS reaffirmed his commitment to troop welfare, noting that improved welfare remained critical to sustaining morale, operational effectiveness and combat readiness.
He urged the troops to remain disciplined, professional and loyal to the Constitution and the democratically elected government.
Earlier, the Theatre Commander, JTF-NC Operation SAVANNAH SHIELD, Maj.-Gen. Yakubu Yahaya, commended the COAS for his strategic leadership and support.
Yahaya assured that troops would remain committed and steadfast in restoring peace and stability in the region.
The Nigerian Navy says it is expanding training and infrastructure to address emerging security threats and strengthen operational efficiency across formations and units nationwide.
The Chief of Naval Staff, Vice Adm. Idi Abbas, spoke during the inauguration of projects at the Nigerian Navy Basic Training School (NNBTS) in Onne, Rivers as part of activities marking the Nigerian Navy’s 70th anniversary.
Abbas, represented by the Flag Officer Commanding, Naval Training Command (NAVTRAC), Rear Adm. Ebiobowei Zipele, said the projects reflected significant progress made by the navy since its establishment in 1956 from the British Royal Navy.
“Training and infrastructure have improved significantly to meet contemporary security challenges and fulfil the navy’s constitutional responsibilities.”
According to him, the anniversary provides the navy an opportunity to reflect on its achievements and contributions over the past seven decades.
Projects inaugurated included a remodelled female trainees’ hostel accommodating more than 500 occupants and an expanded golf course upgraded from one to nine holes.
Others were the NNBTS fuel dump, Chief Boatswain’s Mate House, renovated pharmacy department and a new theatre block at the Naval Medical Centre, Onne.
Abbas described the new theatre as a major milestone for the navy’s medical services.
“Previously, injured personnel requiring surgeries were referred outside the facility.
“With this theatre, surgeries can now be conducted within the base.’’
He added that a 30KVA inverter had also been installed to guarantee uninterrupted electricity supply at the training school.
The naval chief assured officers, ratings and trainees that the navy leadership remained committed to their welfare and wellbeing.
“These infrastructure upgrades show the commitment of the Chief of Naval Staff to addressing operational and welfare challenges promptly,” he said.
In addition, NAVTRAC distributed educational materials to pupils of Community Primary Schools One and Two, Ogale, in Ebubu-Eleme area of Rivers.
Items distributed included exercise books, school bags and other writing materials as part of the navy’s civil-military engagement initiative.
Zipele said the outreach was designed to strengthen relations between the navy and host communities while supporting children’s education.
“Education remains critical to national growth and youth empowerment. Some of these pupils may eventually serve in the Nigerian Navy,” he said.
He noted that the initiative demonstrated the navy’s commitment to educational development, peace, security and sustainable community relations.
Zipele urged the pupils to remain disciplined, focused and committed to their studies while embracing patriotism, integrity and hard work.
He thanked the Ebubu community for its continued support for the naval training command headquarters and the navy.
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