By Mercy Gadia Adi
The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has entered into a strategic partnership with the Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) to curb corruption in the administration of the Defined Benefit Pension Scheme (DBS).
The agreement, formalised through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in Abuja on September 2, 2025, is expected to strengthen transparency, accountability, and integrity in the pension system that caters to thousands of retired federal workers.
The MoU was signed by PTAD’s Executive Secretary, Mrs. Tolulope Odunaiya, and the ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu (SAN). It provides a legal framework for collaboration between both agencies in monitoring, investigating, and preventing corrupt practices within the DBS.
Speaking during the ceremony, Mrs. Odunaiya stressed that the agreement reflects the joint resolve of both institutions to safeguard pensioners’ welfare and protect public funds from mismanagement.
“The MoU reflects our shared determination to combat pension corruption within the DBS, uphold integrity, and advance transparency and accountability within our respective mandates, while ensuring the delivery of good governance to every pensioner and stakeholder,” she said.
She added that by leveraging the combined strengths of PTAD’s digitised pension database and the ICPC’s investigative capacity, the agencies would enhance their ability to detect, prevent, and prosecute corruption-related offenses. According to her, the partnership is in line with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, which prioritises good governance and social welfare.
On his part, Dr. Aliyu described the partnership as a milestone in the fight against corruption in Nigeria’s pension administration. He emphasised that the synergy between PTAD and ICPC would close loopholes that had previously been exploited by corrupt individuals and syndicates.
“By combining PTAD’s robust and increasingly digitised database with the investigative and prosecutorial powers of the ICPC, we are creating a seamless and powerful force,” the ICPC boss said.
He further praised Mrs. Odunaiya’s leadership and commitment to accountability, noting that the collaboration would serve as a deterrent to fraudulent practices within the DBS.
The ICPC Chairman also highlighted that the MoU reinforces the broader anti-corruption strategy of the Commission, which includes proactive prevention, system reviews, and strict enforcement. According to him, the ultimate goal is to protect the welfare of Nigerian pensioners, many of whom have faced hardship in accessing their entitlements due to corrupt practices.
Both agencies pledged to ensure continuous stakeholder engagement, regular monitoring, and swift prosecution of offenders as part of their joint effort to sanitise the system.
The partnership has been welcomed by pensioner advocacy groups and transparency campaigners, who see it as a step toward addressing long-standing challenges in pension administration. Experts note that pension reforms often falter without strict enforcement mechanisms, making the ICPC’s involvement crucial to success.
Observers believe that with this collaboration, pensioners can look forward to a more accountable and transparent process, one that safeguards their hard-earned benefits and restores confidence in the system.
The signing of the MoU underscores a renewed commitment by the Federal Government to eliminate leakages in pension administration and to promote good governance in line with global best practices.