AKINWALE ABOLUWADE
The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has commenced the implementation of the recently approved pension increments for retirees under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS), with adjustments reflected in the September 2025 payroll cycle.
In a statement on Tuesday, PTAD said the package includes a fixed N32,000 increase alongside percentage adjustments of 10.66% and 12.95% for eligible categories, benefiting about 832,000 pensioners under its management.
The move follows President Bola Tinubu’s approval in August of new welfare measures for DBS pensioners after a request by PTAD’s Executive Secretary, Tolulope Odunaiya, for an emergency budgetary allocation to address longstanding pension challenges.
According to PTAD, the partial release of N820.188 billion by the Federal Ministry of Finance from the approved N845 billion emergency fund made it possible to begin disbursement immediately.
“This milestone reaffirms the Federal Government’s commitment to safeguarding the welfare and entitlements of DBS pensioners in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda,” the statement read.
The reforms cover: A N32,000 pension increment; Percentage increases for pensioners of defunct and privatised agencies; Harmonization of pensions across all DBS categories; Enrolment of pensioners into the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS); and Settlement of long-standing unfunded pension liabilities.
PTAD expressed appreciation to President Tinubu for approving the allocation, and acknowledged the support of the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Wale Edun; Minister of State for Finance, Doris Uzoka-Anite; the Accountant-General of the Federation; key presidential aides; and parliamentary committees.
It also commended organised pension groups, including the Nigeria Union of Pensioners and the Federal Parastatals and Private Sector Pensioners Association of Nigeria, for their cooperation during negotiations.
The DBS covers pensioners who retired before the introduction of the Contributory Pension Scheme in 2004, including those from defunct public institutions, privatised agencies, and treasury-funded parastatals.
For years, many of them faced irregular payments, delayed harmonisation, and inadequate access to healthcare – issues the new reforms aim to resolve.
