There seems to be hope for pensioners of the defunct National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) and Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN), as Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has promised to conclude its work on re-computation of the monthly benefits for the affected retirees along with consequential implementation not later than end of this month.
The body said it was optimistic that the team undertaking the exercise would deliver on schedule.
A response letter signed by Director, Parastatal Pension (PaPD), Kabiru Yusuf and addressed to the former employees, known as Concerned NEPA/PHCN Pensioners, advised that all claims should be directed to the Bureau of Public Enterprises (BPE).
The group had sought immediate payment of all accrued benefits of 2020 retirees, consisting of gratuity and monthly pension shortfall of 42 per cent for 22 years.
Led by their coordinators, Dunmoye Oladimeji and Julius Ayodeji, the ex-workers said all was going well until PTAD took over in 2014 after final unbundling of NEPA/PHCN in 2013.
The retirees, in a petition to President Muhammadu Buhari in October 2021, alleged that claims of N25 billion had been made by government in the Appropriation Acts of 2017 to 2022, “but the PTAD failed to pay us till date.”
But the letter by PTAD stated that unless there is a reversal of the earlier position established by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC), the ex-PHCN pensioners are not entitled to a 33 per cent pension increment.
On the complaint for immediate restoration and payment of utility allowance/electricity rebate, the correspondence stated that the re-computation would conclusively address the matter.
