The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has unveiled the “I Am Alive” online confirmation solution for pensioners.
The Executive Secretary of PTAD, Dr Chioma Ejikeme at the unveiling in Abuja, said PTAD had kept its promise to end physical field verification of aged pensioners.
Ejikeme said that the solution, which is an online application, was designed to enable pensioners under the Defined, Benefits Scheme (DBS), to to easily process their verification from the comfort of their homes using either a smartphone or a computer system.
She said that the pilot phase was largely successful as the teething challenges were identified and resolved.
According to her, PTAD is ready to fully roll-out the “I Am Alive” Confirmation (IAAC) solution to the pensioners nationwide.
“We believe this is a way forward as far as validation of the aliveness of our pensioners is concerned.
“We wish to use this opportunity to assure our esteemed pensioners that the “I Am Alive” confirmation solution has been designed with their utmost welfare in mind, leveraging on accuracy, reliability, user-friendliness and convenience.”
She explained that the IAAC solution was available to all PTAD verified pensioners across the four Pension Departments, (Police Pensioners, Customs, Immigration and Prisons Pensioners, Civil Service Pensioners and Parastatals Pensioners).
According to her, the platform is simple and easy to use and the directorate has provided a short video for instructions.
“The application can be accessed using a smart mobile phone, a desktop or any computer device that has Internet access.
“The journey to test and provide this solution has taken PTAD over 18 months.
“They have been challenging months that stretched us, as an organisation, as we worked to ensure that our service ethos of ‘Empathy for our pensioners welfare’ is delivered.
“We are proud of our efforts and are hopeful that the solution will have a positive impact on our DBS pensioners as well as PTAD and the government in general.”
The Executive Secretary said that the benefits of the IAAC solution to the DBS pensioners and the Federal Government were huge.
“Government funding of pensions will be accurately estimated as deceased pensioners are immediately removed from the payroll, funding for field verification will be completely eliminated.
“Pensioners are no longer required to travel long distances with the attendant stress and inconveniences to attend verification exercises.
“And the result of the IAAC solution is received via SMS to the phone of the pensioner.”
She said a six-month grace period had been given to the four departments and their pensioners to complete their IAAC solution enrollment.
Ejikeme also assured all stakeholders that nobody could tamper with pensioners pension payment through the “I Am Alive” platform.
The Minister of Finance, Budget and National Planning, Mrs Zainab Ahmed in her remarks, encouraged all pensioners to enroll for the solution.
Mrs Ahmed who was represented by the Director of Human Resources in the Ministry, Mrs Omobola Olushola- Dada, commended the Directorate for unveiling the online platform for verification of pensioners.
Dr Stephen Fatusin, the Chairman of South-West Zonal Congress of Pensioners, Federal College of Education (FCE) Section, commended the Directorate for all its efforts.
GFH News reports that no fewer than 50,000 pensioners enrolled in the “I Am Alive” pilot scheme, at the inauguration of the online portal in October 2021.
