Federal Govt Pays N12.39bn Pension Arrears Of Ex NITEL/MTEL Pensioners

Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) says it has paid the total sum of N12,393,567,595.80 billion representing 15-months settlement of inherited unfunded pension liabilities to 11,145 NITEL/MTELpensioners.

PTAD executive secretary, Dr Chioma Ejikeme explained that the 15 months payment is part of the outstanding 63 months of inherited unfunded pension liabilities to NITEL/MTELpensioners leaving a balance of 48months yet to be settled.

In 2018 and after 12 years of uncertainty post privatisation, PTAD onboard ex-workers of NITEL/MTELto the monthly pension payroll in fulfillment of President Muhammadu Buhari’s commitment to ensuring that all eligible pensioners get their entitlements.

At the onset, the inherited unfunded pension liability for NITEL/MTEL stood at 84-months,

So far, the federal government through PTAD has cleared 36-months out of the inherited arrears as follows 1-month in 2019; 6-months in 2020; 14-months in 2021 and 15-months in 2022.

Dr Ejikeme gave the assurance that the backlog of NITEL/Mtel inheritied pension liabilities will continue to be cleared subject to available funds.