By Mercy Gadia Adi
The House of Representatives Committee on Pensions has called on the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) to address gaps in gratuity provisions, capital project execution, and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) compliance as preparations for the 2026 budget intensify.
Speaking during PTAD’s 2025 budget performance review in Abuja, Committee Chairman Hon. Jallo Hussaini Mohammed commended the agency for its progress in pension reforms but stressed the need to strengthen accountability measures.
“Corporate social responsibility is not just about compliance, it’s about giving back. As we move into the 2026 budget year, we want to see CSR captured by all pension agencies, including PTAD,” he said.
He assured retirees that the National Assembly remains committed to protecting their rights and ensuring prompt payment of entitlements, adding that the committee would intensify oversight to resolve outstanding issues.
PTAD Executive Secretary, Tolulope Odunaiya, outlined the Directorate’s milestones despite funding constraints. She highlighted:
Seamless implementation of the 28% pension increase approved in 2024.
Payment of arrears to over 155,000 pensioners.
Presidential approvals for pensioners’ health insurance and settlement of 35 months’ arrears for NITEL/MTEL retirees.
On financial performance, she disclosed that ₦128.9 billion was appropriated for pensions in 2025, of which ₦62.7 billion had been released by June and ₦56.6 billion utilized, representing 91.2% of releases.
She admitted that no funds were appropriated for gratuities in 2025 due to an “inexplicable oversight,” unlike the ₦777.8 million provided and fully released in 2024. She further revealed that ₦25 billion was earmarked for unfunded pension liabilities in 2025, with ₦13 billion released and ₦8.7 billion expended so far.
Other allocations included ₦2.4 billion for personnel costs (₦1.09 billion released and fully utilized), ₦1.49 billion for overhead (₦434 million released, ₦334 million spent), and ₦820 million for capital projects, which remain pending due to delayed cash flow policies and extension of the 2024 budget cycle.
The Executive Secretary noted that the Directorate is grappling with office eviction threats, delayed vendor payments, and unfunded liabilities, but pledged continued commitment to retirees’ welfare.
Hon. Mohammed emphasized that the committee, acting under Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended) and Section 81 of the House Standing Orders, will submit a detailed report on PTAD’s operations before the 2026 budget defense.
“Activities in 2026 will not be business as usual. We will enforce accountability and ensure pensioners get what is due to them,” he declared.