Pensioners laud PTAD for assistance in payment of benefits

PENSIONERS of the defunct Oshogbo Steel Rolling Mills (OSRM) has extolled Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) for bringing succour to them.

Mr Gbenga Oguntona, the leader of a delegation of retired workers of the defunct Oshogbo Steel Rolling Mills visited Mrs Nellie Mayshak, Director General of the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate, PTAD , in her Abuja office.

He said PTAD brought huge relief to the retired steel workers and their families when they were paid part of their pension arrears and put on PTAD’s pension payroll.

‘PTAD is now a melody in our mouths. We were once consigned to the dustbin of history but PTAD brought us back to life.’

According to Mr Oguntona, before PTAD came to their rescue last year many of their colleagues suffered severe deprivations with some dying of hunger and diseases as a result of non-payment of their pension benefits.

Mr. Oguntona added that he and his comrades in the steel sector will remain eternally grateful to the Federal Government for the establishment of PTAD, an action that has brought to an end,the irregular and delayed payment of pensions which was the order of the day before the establishment of PTAD.

‘Now there is prompt payment of monthly pensions to deserving pensioners nationwide.

“PTAD pensioners in Oshogbo always receive the uniform credit alerts on their phones at the end of the month and for most, the sound of PTAD’s credit alert is usually followed by dancing. This is in contrast to the situation of state pensioners in Osun where pensioners have not received their monthly pension for upward of 7 months.’ said Oguntona

The delegation which included Alhaji Fatai Oladepo and Mr.Gbenga Alao also used the opportunity to plead with the DG to assist in ensuring that the next of kin of their deceased colleagues that have not been brought on PTAD’s payroll be captured speedily to bring succor to these families.

The delegation went ahead to invite Mrs Mayshak to pay them a visit in Oshogbo and to also officially receive a plaque of gratitude from their union for the great work she is doing to ameliorate the sufferings of pensioners nationwide.

In her response to the kind gesture of the delegation, the Director General , Mrs . Nellie Mayshak thanked the delegation for the heartwarming feedback and vowed to continue to serve pensioners with the care and respect that they deserve.

Mrs. Mayshak assured them that PTAD will continue to work hard to ensure the environment is fraud-free, so that only genuine pensioners are paid their entitlements.

She assured that PTAD will look into the case of the NOKs of the deceased retirees with a view to pay rolling the qualified beneficiaries.

The DG also informed the delegation that toll-free customer service telephone numbers are now available on the Agency’s website to enable pensioners reach PTAD at no cost and bring forward their complaints and observations.

PTAD had shortly after its establishment, carried out a mini verification of retired workers of the Steel Rolling Mills of Jos , Katsina and Oshogbo. At the end of the exercise in July 2014, 1401 workers of the moribund companies were enrolled on the payroll of PTAD for monthly pension payment.

In December of the same year part of their accumulated pension arrears were also paid to them.