Pension: Stop Making False Claims, You’re Settled, Paid Off, PTAD Tells PHCN Retirees

The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has cautioned retirees of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) to desist from making false claims on 33% pension increment approved by the Federal Government in 2010.

PTAD management in a statement cited the National Salaries, Incomes & Wages Commission’s letter of approval Ref: SWC/S/04/S.542/26 of 26th September 2014, which clarified that the retired staff of PHCN are not entitled to the pension increase of 33%.

The PHCN Pensioners under the aegis of Concerned PHCN Pensioners were alleging that PTAD had colluded with some “powerful individuals” to deprive them of the 33% pension increment as approved by the Federal Government in 2010.

But PTAD while insisting that the retirees of the PHCN were excluded from the 33% increment said: “This is because PHCN pensioners were already on a special salary structure before the pension review for Pensioners who while in service were on one of the Harmonized Salary Structures of the Federal Public Service.

“It should be noted that PHCN Pensioners took the Federal Government to the National Industrial Court (NIC) Abuja on this issue. After several engagements, President Buhari approved the implementation of 9.7% increase in the pensions of Ex-PHCN Retirees under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS). This approval was used as an out- of -court settlement in order to put an end to the suit at NIC, Abuja.

“Following the approval of the President, via approval letter Ref:(SWC/S/04/S.557/III/546) of 7th May, 2021, the 9.7% increment was implemented with effect from 1st June, 2016 and the arrears paid in December 2021 to all eligible Ex-PHCN Retirees.

“It is therefore preposterous and uncalled for that this group wants to conveniently forget the amicable agreement reached by all parties and arm-twist the Federal Government to make claims on the 33% pension increment.

“Other related issues as it concerns this group of pensioners have since been communicated to the Coordinator of the Concerned PHCN Pensioners, Mr. Dunmoye Muritala Oladimeji via a letter dated March 17, 2021 with Ref: (PTAD/PaPD/231/VolII/263).”