The Executive Secretary of the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) in Nigeria, Chioma Ejikeme says leveraging on Information Communication Technology (ICT) is imperative to improve the Pension system in the country.
Ejikeme made this known during the second day of the sensitization summit on eradication of Pension fraud in Nigeria, organized by Nigeria’s anti-graft agency, the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) held in Abuja.
She explained that Pensioners previously were faced with delays in pension complaint resolutions and documentation due to paper-based management of pension cases and lack of an electronically saved database.
According to her, “Gave rooms to fraudulent activities in the Pension management in Nigeria.”
The PTAD Executive Secretary explained that the commencement of the agency’s operations has yielded results even though it inherited zero databases.
“The database is now a robust platform that archives both service records and biometric features that interfaces with other software for review and synchronization.
“All legacy complaints (paper-based), transferred to a complaint portal for tracking resolution management.
“E – channels are now being deployed for submission of complaints.”
Another benefit of ICT pension management the PTAD Executive Secretary emphasized is that “Payments are remotely affected directly by CBN via GIFMIS and remita, thereby reducing exposure to cash handling.”
Also, the National President, Nigeria Union of Pensioners Mr I. Abumisi while speaking on the challenges of living with pension fraud in the country identified embezzlement, corruption and fraud as the leading causes of frustrations and death to Pensioners.
He recommended among others amendments of the 2014 Pension reform act, appointment of credible Pensioners to head pension boards, aggressive nationwide sensitization and withdrawal funds of retirees to be adjusted to 50% as against 25% to enable them to invest meaningfully.
The Chief Executive Officer of Advanced Management Academy in Abuja, Mr Peter Oyeneye presented a paper on Preparatory to a deserved befitting retirement, urging civil servants to think better for a better retirement.
PIAK
