PTAD MOVES TO ENROLL PENSIONERS INTO NHIS

The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) says it will partner the Ministry of Health and other relevant agencies to ensure that pensioners are enrolled into the National Health Insurance Scheme.

The Executive Secretary, Mrs. Sharon Ikeazor, stated this at the Directorate’s 2018 South East Zone Stakeholders Forum held in Enugu.

Mrs. Ikeazor said that pensioners needed to benefit more from the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) given their age and poor monthly pension.

She emphasized that PTAD was committed to prioritizing the well being of pensioners through prompt and regular payment of their entitlements.

While identifying fraud as a major challenge facing pension administration in the country, Mrs. Ikeazor pledged to partner relevant agencies to ensure strict compliance with pension industry standards.

The Acting General, National Pension Commission, Mrs. Aisha Dahir-Umar, represented by an official from the enforcement Department of the Commission, Mr. Michael Ejiofor, commended PTAD for developing a comprehensive and credible data for all pensioners.

Also, a representative of the Commissioner, Public Complaints Commission and Federal Commissioner, Enugu Police Chidi Ekwe, said the commission had successfully concluded a good number of pensioners, complaints since 2015.

In a message, the National President, Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Dr. Abed Afolaye, represented by the South East President of the Union, Chief Emeka Onwumere, noted that PTAD had positively touched the lives of pensioners.

The forum provided an opportunity for pensioners to interact with officials of PTAD on issues bordering them.

Some of the pensioners interviewed, Mrs. Nkechi Kate Edoga and Dr. Osita Agha, advocated the institution of minimum wage for Nigerian pensioners to enable them to cope with the economic realities in the country.

They expressed the hope that the good visions of PTAD for Nigerian Pensioners would be sustained.

OBINNA OGBUKA