 |
| Executive Secretary of Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), Mrs. Sharon Ikeazor, |
Sometimes on or about 46 years after the outbreak of Nigeria and Biafra civil war ended and 11 years after the gallant soldiers that fought on the side of Biafra were dismissed by Nigeria for fighting on the side of Biafra in the episode was converted to retirement by the Olusegun Obasanjo-led administration, the federal government yesterday began the payment of pensions to 176 retired war affected Police officers from the South-South and Southeast geo- political zones of the country.
Shortlisted for payment were 57 members of the group who had died within the period and another 155 others who are on the payroll, but were being short-paid. The 155 affected persons would be paid in the next batch as soon as their pension benefit computation was completed.
Executive Secretary of the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), Mrs. Sharon Ikeazor, who announced this while flagging off the payment of pension benefits to the retired war affected police officers, said the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration was committed to redressing the injustice done against them and had approved payment of all their entitlements.
Ikeazor stated that a full-blown verification of the pardoned officers was carried out by the defunct police pension office and recently PTAD on one hand and the Police Service Commission on the other hand.
She said that the verification exercise conducted in late 2014 and early 2015 resulted in identifying about 460 of the police officers caught up in the civil war.“Despite the presidential pardon and the verification of these officers, many of them remained unpaid for years. However, the Buhari administration has given approval for the payment of the pension entitlements to these officers and their next of kin,” she said.
She emphasised that the payment was another decision by the federal government to bring closure to the painful legacies of the civil war and a clear demonstration that the present administration was committed to ensuring that Nigerians who spent their productive years serving the nation will not experience difficulties in getting their pensions.
Ikeazor thanked the leadership of the retired police officers for comporting themselves and supporting government in ensuring that their payment was realised.President of the Association, Mathew Udeh, said the fulfillment of the payment marked the end to the civil war memories, stressing that the members would continue to pray for a united Nigeria devoid of rancour.
He called on the government to fulfill her obligations towards other members who did not benefit from the first tranche, stressing that the gesture though belated was an encouragement to those now serving in various capacities in the country.
In this article:
Shortlisted for payment were 57 members of the group who had died within the period and another 155 others who are on the payroll, but were being short-paid. The 155 affected persons would be paid in the next batch as soon as their pension benefit computation was completed.
Executive Secretary of the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), Mrs. Sharon Ikeazor, who announced this while flagging off the payment of pension benefits to the retired war affected police officers, said the President Muhammadu Buhari-led administration was committed to redressing the injustice done against them and had approved payment of all their entitlements.
Ikeazor stated that a full-blown verification of the pardoned officers was carried out by the defunct police pension office and recently PTAD on one hand and the Police Service Commission on the other hand.
She said that the verification exercise conducted in late 2014 and early 2015 resulted in identifying about 460 of the police officers caught up in the civil war.“Despite the presidential pardon and the verification of these officers, many of them remained unpaid for years. However, the Buhari administration has given approval for the payment of the pension entitlements to these officers and their next of kin,” she said.
She emphasised that the payment was another decision by the federal government to bring closure to the painful legacies of the civil war and a clear demonstration that the present administration was committed to ensuring that Nigerians who spent their productive years serving the nation will not experience difficulties in getting their pensions.
Ikeazor thanked the leadership of the retired police officers for comporting themselves and supporting government in ensuring that their payment was realised.President of the Association, Mathew Udeh, said the fulfillment of the payment marked the end to the civil war memories, stressing that the members would continue to pray for a united Nigeria devoid of rancour.
He called on the government to fulfill her obligations towards other members who did not benefit from the first tranche, stressing that the gesture though belated was an encouragement to those now serving in various capacities in the country.
In this article: