By Chidi Ugwu
The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has hosted a specialized workshop aimed at equipping pension correspondents and online editors with deeper insights into Nigeria’s pension system, underscoring the agency’s commitment to transparency and accountability.
At the one-day capacity-building event held Thursday in Abuja, Tolulope Odunaiya, PTAD’s Executive Secretary, emphasized that advancing pension reforms hinges on informed and responsible media coverage, which this training sought to strengthen.
Kabiru Yusuf, Director of PTAD’s Corporate Services Department, who represented the Executive Secretary, opened the workshop by highlighting the need for journalists to fully grasp the complexities of pension administration to foster accurate reporting and clear public understanding of the agency’s mandates.
Odunaiya acknowledged the longstanding alliance between PTAD and the media, noting that positive and accurate reportage has played a pivotal role in changing perceptions about the Defined Benefits Scheme (DBS) and the agency’s operations in pension management.
“The media’s role is indispensable in ensuring accountability within the pension system,” she said, stressing that this collaboration enhances public confidence in PTAD’s efforts to safeguard retirees’ benefits.
Indoor presentations at the workshop covered essential topics, including PTAD’s statutory foundation, organizational structure, and key operational departments, reinforcing the importance of detailed knowledge in coverage of pension issues.
Participants were guided through the history, current status, and future objectives of PTAD, equipping them to better report on pension challenges and successes, thus contributing to a more transparent pension environment.
The opening session featured a paper by Mr. Yusuf titled, “Understanding the Defined Benefit Scheme and PTAD’s Oversight Role,” laying a framework for the workshop’s discourse on pension policy and administration.
Subsequent presentations delved into technical explanations of DBS and the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), departmental roles, and critical service processes such as pensioner verification and complaint resolution.
Dr. Ihuoma Ikemba-Efughi discussed the verification and complaints processes aimed at improving service delivery, while Jibrin Idris tackled misconceptions about pension arrears and computations, demystifying complex payment mechanisms.
The role of technology was highlighted by Adamu Ismail’s presentation on the “I Am Alive Confirmation Platform,” showcasing how digital innovations are streamlining pension administration and beneficiary confirmation.
Finally, Olugbenga Ajayi outlined best practices for collaboration between journalists and PTAD, emphasizing accurate information flows and fact-checking to curb misinformation and enhance pensioners’ welfare protection.
