PTAD Directs Unverified Diaspora Pensioners To Renew Aliveness Certificates
By Sunday Etuka, Abuja
The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has directed unverified diaspora pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS) who were suspended from the pension payroll to renew their “Aliveness Certificate” from the Nigerian High Commission where they reside.
In a statement on Monday by the Head, Corporate Communications Unit, Olugbenga Ajayi, PTAD said, the process is a means of ascertaining their aliveness since they cannot yet participate in the “I Am Alive” verification exercise for verified pensioners.
The statement quoted the Executive Secretary of PTAD, Dr. Chioma Ejikeme to have explained that on the completion of the nationwide pensioners verification exercise by PTAD, those who were not verified were dropped from the pension payroll with the exception of Diaspora and Sick pensioners.
Dr. Ejikeme said, the policy and procedure that will guide the validation of Diaspora pensioners has been put in place.
In this regard, she said , pensioners living in the Diaspora, who were previously on the inherited payroll from August 2015, will be reinstated to the Diaspora payroll pending their physical verification.
However, the PTAD boss said, they must submit copies of the under listed documents to complaints@ptad.gov.ng:
1. Letter of First Appointment
2. Letter of Last Promotion
3. Letter of Acceptance of Retirement
4. Bank statement showing last pension received
5. BVN slip with photograph
6. Valid means of Identification
7. I Am Alive Certification from the Nigerian High Commission or Notarized letter confirming aliveness.
According to her, all Diaspora pensioners are required to send an updated Aliveness Certificate after every 6 months of the last issue to the Directorate to make sure they continue to receive their monthly pension.
She said, failure to do so would result in their suspension from the pension payroll.