The Public Complaints Commission (PCC) has promised to support the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) in creating more awareness among pensioners under the old Defined Benefit Scheme. This move is aimed at making it easier and faster to resolve the many complaints pensioners have been facing over the years.
This agreement came to light during a visit by the Executive Secretary of PTAD, Dr. Tolulope Odunaiya, to the Chief Commissioner of the PCC, Hon. Bashir Abubakar, at the Commission’s headquarters in Abuja.
Speaking during the visit, Dr. Odunaiya said the PCC has played an important role in connecting PTAD with pensioners across the country. She praised the PCC for helping to build trust and improve communication between the Directorate and the retired workers it serves.
She pointed out that as Nigeria’s Ombudsman, the PCC receives complaints not just from pensioners, but also from the next of kin of deceased retirees. According to her, many of these complaints would have gone unheard without the Commission’s help. This support, she said, has made it easier for PTAD to identify and assist those pensioners who truly need help.
Giving an update on the status of complaints sent by the PCC, Odunaiya said PTAD remains fully committed to improving the lives and welfare of pensioners in Nigeria. She assured the Commission that every complaint is taken seriously, and every effort is made to resolve them as quickly as possible.
However, she also mentioned a major problem that slows down the process — incomplete documents. Many pensioners or their next of kin submit complaints without attaching the necessary papers, which makes it difficult for PTAD to carry out proper investigations.
To tackle this, Dr. Odunaiya appealed directly to the PCC for help in teaching pensioners and their families about the need to always submit complete and correct documents when lodging complaints. She said this would help reduce delays and make the whole process smoother and faster.
In response, the Chief Commissioner of the PCC, Hon. Bashir Abubakar, thanked PTAD for always responding quickly to the complaints sent from his office. He also promised that the PCC would fully support the awareness campaign to educate pensioners and their next of kin.
Abubakar praised Dr. Odunaiya for being proactive and taking bold steps to solve problems affecting Nigerian pensioners. He noted that this kind of collaboration is what the country needs to ensure that retired citizens are treated with respect and dignity.
This partnership between PTAD and the PCC marks a new level of commitment to solving the problems faced by pensioners, especially those under the old Defined Benefit Scheme. Many of these retirees are aged and have spent years waiting for their entitlements. With better communication and proper education on document submission, it is hoped that the suffering of these pensioners will be greatly reduced.
The Defined Benefit Scheme is the old pension system that was in place before the Pension Reform Act of 2004. It was a pay-as-you-go model where the government or employers paid gratuity and pension directly to workers after retirement. The scheme was known for poor funding, mismanagement, and lack of proper regulation. This is what led to the introduction of the new Contributory Pension Scheme that is now being used by workers in Nigeria today.
