Pension Directorate begins verification of FG retirees in Bayelsa

Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) on Monday commenced the verification of Federal Government pensioners resident in Bayelsa.

No fewer than 2,000 pensioners turned out for the exercise slated to last from Jan. 16 to Jan. 18.

Officials of PTAD addressed the retirees on the procedures and checklist of documents required for the exercise.

They urged them to be orderly as the verification was designed to fast track regular payment of their monthly pensions.

Some of the pensioners who spoke to newsmen commended officials of the PTAD for the arrangements made for the verification and described them as “effective.”

They said that they were treated courteously by officials of PTAD.

“The arrangements are very good and commendable; they provided enough seats for the envisaged crowd under a shade for people to sit and wait while sorting out their documents.

“The documents they are asking for are many and they gave out a list of what they require.

“Some pensioners who do not have all the documents went back home to bring the rest; but the good thing is that they (PTAD officials) will be on ground for three days.

“It is hoped that they will verify every pensioner that turns up for the exercise,” Bio Ekio one of the pensioners said.

Chief Newman Kenibolo, a former chairman of Bayelsa chapter of Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) told NAN that the exercise was going smoothly.

He, however, stressed the need for PTAD to liaise with the leadership of NUP in the state to sensitize pensioners.

He observed that some categories of pensioners who were not qualified for the screening besieged the venue.

“The publicity for the exercise was not detailed enough; they ought to spell out the categories of those who are eligible to avoid people wasting their time and the time of PTAD.

“The current leadership of PTAD should do more in sensitizing the pensioners.

“I have gone round to see how things are going and by the third day, we shall be able to assess the entire process,” Kenibolo said.

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