Leveraging on ICT Infrastructure has been identified as an imperative towards improved Pension system in Nigeria.
The Executive Secretary Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) in Nigeria Dr. Chioma Ejikeme said Pensioners previously faced delays in pension complaint resolutions and documentations due to paper-based management of pension cases and lack of electronically saved database.
These, Dr. Chioma noted; “gave room to fraudulent activities in Pension management in Nigeria.”
She stated her opinion during the second day of the sensitisation summit on eradication of Pension fraud in Nigeria, organised by Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission EFCC held in Abuja.
Yielded Results
The PTAD Executive Secretary explained that the commencement of the agency’s operations has yielded results even though it inherited zero database.
“The database is now a robust platform that archives both service records and biometric features that interface with other softwares for review and synchronisation.”
“All legacy complaints (paper based) are transferred to a complaint portal for tracking resolution management.”
She noted that, “E – channels are now being deployed for submission of complaints.”
Another benefit of ICT pension management, the PTAD Executive Secretary emphasised is that, “payments are remotely effected directly by CBN via GIFMIS and remita, thereby reducing exposure to cash handling,” she explained.
Corruption and Fraud
Also, the National President, Nigeria Union of Pensioners Mr. I. Abumisi while speaking on the challenges of living with pension fraud in Nigeria identified embezzlement, corruption and fraud as leading causes of frustrations and deaths of Pensioners.
He recommended among other amendments of the 2014 Pension reform act, the appointment of credible Pensioners to head pension boards
Mr Abumisi also called for aggressive nationwide sensitisation to enable the withdrawal fund of retirees to be adjusted to 50% as against 25% for meaningful investment.
The Chief executive officer of Advanced Management Academy Abuja, Mr. Peter Oyeneye presented a paper on “Preparation for a deserved befitting retirement,” urging Civil Servants to think better for a better retirement.
Lateefah Ibrahim
