PTAD Boosts Media Capacity in Drive for Pension Transparency. By Raymond Enoch
In a bid to strengthen public confidence and ensure accurate reporting on pension administration, the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) yheld a capacity-building workshop for online editors and correspondents at its headquarters in Abuja Nigeria.
The event brought together top management of the Directorate — including Tolulope Odunaiya (Executive Secretary, represented by the Director of Corporate Services, Kabiru Yusuf), alongside directors from the IT, Pension-Service Support and Tertiary Education & Health Departments.
In a series of presentations, journalists were guided through PTAD’s operational structure, its legal mandate under the Pension Reform Act 2014, and a roadmap of planned reforms aimed at improving pension delivery across Nigeria.
Odunaiya emphasised that the media — especially online editors and correspondents — remain critical partners in reshaping the narrative around pension management. “It is very important, as reporters, to understand where we are coming from, where we are, where we are headed, and what exactly we do, so you can report accurately,” she said.
According to Yusuf’s presentation, PTAD has over the years built a state-of-the-art data centre, developed a comprehensive database of eligible pensioners with biometric records, and launched digital tools like mobile-verification and a dedicated complaints-resolution portal. These innovations are designed to ensure that the “correct pension” is paid to the “correct pensioner at the correct time.”
But the workshop did not shy away from challenges: PTAD officials acknowledged that the absence of a statutory provision making pension a “first-line charge” sometimes leads to delays in pension and arrears payment. There are also unresolved issues around pension coverage for certain categories — including some State-with-Federal-share pensioners and those affected by public service reforms.
In a strategic forward postulations, PTAD says it will sustain its technological capabilities and reinforce media collaboration to deepen public awareness about ongoing reforms. The Directorate expressed hope that with accurate journalism — coupled with its internal improvements — pension management in Nigeria can regain credibility and ensure dignity for retirees.
