PTAD Hosts Online Editors to Foster Collaboration to Sanitise Nigeria’s Pension System.
By Raymond Enoch
The Executive Secretary of the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), Tolulope Odunaiya, on Tuesday received members of the Association of Corporate Online Editors (ACOE) at the agency’s headquarters, as part of PTAD’s continued drive to increase public awareness of its reform initiatives.
Odunaiya underscored the essential role of the media in demystifying government policies and giving voice to ordinary Nigerians, particularly pensioners who rely on accurate information about their entitlements.
The visiting ACOE delegation was led by its Chairman, ‘Sola Akingboye, who described the association as a vibrant coalition of over 50 professional online media organisations committed to upholding the highest standards of journalism in the digital era.
Commending PTAD’s ongoing efforts to sanitise the pension system, Akingboye noted the progress made under Odunaiya’s leadership despite longstanding challenges rooted in systemic corruption.
“Under your able leadership, we have seen the implementation of effective reforms aimed at tackling pension-related issues. These include measures to combat fraud and the introduction of clear guidelines for deductions and remittances,” he said.
Akingboye particularly lauded the agency’s flagship initiative, the I Am Alive Confirmation (IAAC) solution, which verifies pensioners without requiring physical presence. He described it as a significant innovation that both protects vulnerable retirees and saves the Federal Government substantial resources previously spent on manual verification processes.
“These accomplishments, among others, are a testament to the progress PTAD has achieved in less than ten months under your stewardship,” Akingboye added.
He pledged the association’s full support for PTAD’s mission, assuring that ACOE’s platforms would be used to amplify the agency’s reforms and successes.
“We are here to express our commitment to supporting efforts aimed at improving Nigeria’s pension system. You can count on us to publicise and promote your initiatives across our wide-reaching digital platforms,” he said.
In her response, Odunaiya expressed appreciation for the visit and acknowledged the indispensable role of the media in simplifying government communication.
“The media is a champion of clarity. Often, people do not fully grasp what we are trying to communicate, and that’s where your work becomes invaluable. I thank you for your efforts,” she stated.
She also affirmed PTAD’s readiness to collaborate more closely with the online media community.
“I recognise the impact of online journalism, especially in a globalised information age. We are open to partnerships that help amplify our work and inform citizens both at home and abroad,” Odunaiya said.
“Thank you for proposing this collaboration. We look forward to working with you, and you can be assured of PTAD’s full support,” she concluded.
