Eight Months After, PTAD Rolls-Out “I Am Alive” Confirmation Solution For Pensioners
The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has finally launched the much talked about “I Am Alive” Confirmation (IAAC) Solution for pensioners under the Defined Benefits Scheme (DBS), eight months after the pilot phase.
Executive Secretary, PTAD, Dr. Chioma Ejikeme announced the full roll-out of the “I Am Alive” Confirmation Solution at a Press Conference on Friday, April 14, 2023 in Abuja.
TheFact Daily reports that the IAAC Solution is an online application designed to enable pensioners under the DBS easily confirm their aliveness from the comfort of their homes or neighbourhood, using either a smartphone or a computer system.
Briefing newsmen on the importance of the solution, Dr. Ejikeme said, “Government funding of pensions will be accurately estimated as deceased pensioners are immediately removed from the Payroll, Funding for field verification will be completely eliminated,
Pensioners are no longer required to travel long distances with the attendant stress and inconvenience to attend verification exercises. The result of the “I Am Alive” Confirmation (IAAC) Solution is received via SMS to the phone of the Pensioner”.
She said, “the journey to test and provide this Solution has taken PTAD over eighteen months. They have been challenging months that stretched us as an organisation, as we worked to ensure that our service ethos of “Empathy” for our Pensioners’ welfare is delivered.
“We are proud of our efforts and are hopeful that the solution will have a positive impact on our DBS Pensioners as well as PTAD and the Government in general.
“The Pilot Phase was largely successful, the teething challenges have been identified and resolved, and PTAD is ready to fully roll-out the I Am Alive Confirmation (IAAC) solution to our Pensioners. This we believe is the way forward as far as validation of the Aliveness of our Pensioners is concerned.
“We wish to use this opportunity to assure our esteemed pensioners that the “I Am Alive” confirmation solution has been designed with their utmost welfare in mind leveraging on accuracy, reliability, user -friendliness and convenience. PTAD has over the years promised that the era of bringing out our aged pensioners for field verification is over, and we are standing by this promise”, she said.
The PTAD boss said, only the Pensioner’s Bank Account number provided during verification and used for receiving pension, and the Pensioner’s number on the Verification Acknowledgement Slip are required.
She noted that PTAD does not need Pensioners’ BVN, ATM Card number or PIN to process the “I Am Alive” Confirmation (IAAC) Solution, therefore, advised them to beware of fraudsters.
“It is important to let our Pensioners know that nobody can tamper with your pension payment through the “I Am Alive” platform.
“If somebody with a smartphone or computer system in your neighbourhood helps you to confirm your aliveness, the person cannot steal your money.
“All we need is a confirmation that you are still alive and eligible to continue to receive your pension”, she added.
Ejikeme gave the operational departments of the Directorate, to include: The Civil Service Pension Department, The Police Pension Department, The Customs, Immigration and Prisons Pension Department, and finally, The Parastatals Pension Department.
She said, to ensure an efficient and effective delivery, the Confirmation program has been staggered according to departments as follows:
Police Pensioners: 14th April, 2023 to
13th October, 2023.
Customs, Immigration and Prisons Pensioners: 1st June, 2023 to 31st December, 2023.
Civil Service Pensioners: 1st July, 2023 to
31st January, 2024.
Parastatals Pensioners: 1st August, 2023 to 28th February, 2024.
She advised the Pensioners to take note of the above dates, adding that any changes to these dates would be communicated via the Press.
She said, the PTAD has provided a six-month grace period for every department and their pensioners to complete their “I Am Alive” Confirmation (IAAC) Solution, disclosing that PTAD has trained Pension Desk Officers from the Ministries, Departments and Agencies the pensioners retired from, as well as the various Representatives of Pension Unions on the use of the application, and they would assist pensioners who are unable to carry out the confirmation on their own.
The IAAC Solution is available to ALL our VERIFIED Pensioners across the four Pension Departments. It is simple and easy to use, and we have provided a short video for instructions. The application can be accessed using a smart mobile phone, a desktop or any computer device that has Internet access.
