The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), says defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN)’s workers are not entitled to the pension increase of 33 per cent.

Gbenga Ajayi, PTAD’s spokesman, said in a statement on Thursday that the PHCN pensioners were already on a special salary structure before the pension review for pensioners was approved.

Mr Ajayi explained that the clarification was necessary as the attention of PTAD management had been drawn to a growing agitation by some group of PHCN pensioners, known as concerned ‘PHCN Pensioners’.

He disclosed that the group alleged that PTAD colluded with some “powerful individuals” to deprive them of the 33 per cent pension increment as approved by the federal government in 2010.

“We would like to state unequivocally, that the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, the Federal Government agency responsible for policy statement on emoluments including pensions had directed via a letter of approval Ref: SWC/S/04/S.542/26 of September 26, 2014, that the retired staff of the defunct PHCN are not entitled to the pension increase of 33 per cent,” noted the PTAD statement. “This is because PHCN pensioners were already on a special salary structure before the pension review for pensioners who, while in service, were on one of the Harmonised Salary Structures of the Federal Public Service.”

PTAD added, “It should be noted that PHCN Pensioners took the Federal Government to the National Industrial Court (NIC) Abuja on this issue. After several engagements, President Muhammadu Buhari approved the implementation of 9.7 per cent increase in the pensions of ex-PHCN retirees under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS).”

According to the statement, the approval was used as an out-of-court settlement in order to put an end to the suit at the National Industrial Court.

Following the approval of the president, via approval letter Ref. SWC/S/04/S.557/III/546) of May 7, 2021, the 9.7 per cent increment was implemented with effect from June 1, 2016 and the arrears paid in December 2021 to all eligible ex-PHCN retirees, said PTAD.

Mr Ajayi said other related issues concerning the group of pensioners had been communicated to the coordinator of the Concerned PHCN Pensioners, Dunmoye Oladimeji, via a letter dated March 17, 2021, with Ref: (PTAD/PaPD/231/VolII/263).

“PTAD will continue to give priority to the welfare of Defined Benefit Scheme Pensioners,” Ajayi said, adding that Mr Buhari remains committed to the welfare of pensioners and has consistently demonstrated that by approving the payment of outstanding pension arrears and regular payment of monthly pensions.

(NAN)