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PTAD launches mobile confirmation solution for pensioners
The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has introduced a mobile solution for its “I Am Alive” confirmation initiative, aimed at enhancing the ease of life-status validation for pensioners.
This was announced by the executive secretary of PTAD, Tolulope Odunaiya, in a statement issued by the head of corporate communications, Olugbenga Ajayi in Abuja.
According to the statement, the mobile “I Am Alive” confirmation solution is specifically designed to support pensioners who are unable to validate their life status through facial or fingerprint recognition due to disabilities or health challenges.
Odunaiya explained that affected pensioners can apply for the mobile solution by filling out an online form available on the PTAD website.
She said once the application is approved by the appropriate authority, a mobile confirmation will be scheduled, during which PTAD representatives will visit the pensioner’s address. If a physical visit is not feasible, Odunaiya said, a video conference call can be arranged to verify the pensioner’s status.
For pensioners living abroad who are not yet verified on the payroll, a certificate of aliveness issued by the Nigerian Embassy or High Commission in their country of residence would be required every six months, she said.
The executive secretary emphasized that the “I Am Alive” confirmation service is completely free.
“Under no circumstances will pensioners be charged any fees for using this application or accessing PTAD’s services,” she said. Odunaiya urged service support staff to demonstrate empathy while assisting pensioners, many of whom may require additional guidance due to limited familiarity with technology.
She also clarified that PTAD state offices would not serve as agent centers or provide office-based confirmation services for walk-in pensioners.
Instead, state offices will focus on guiding pensioners, resolving inquiries, and escalating unresolved complaints to the headquarters.
The ES called on unions and pension desk officers to act as intermediaries between PTAD and pensioners, assisting with first-line inquiries, complaints resolution, and implementation of the Know-Your-Pensioners (KYP) initiative.
This initiative aims to gather credible information about pensioners to improve service delivery. Pensioners are required to confirm their aliveness on PTAD’s platform every six months or as directed by management to continue receiving their monthly pensions.
Those who fail to comply will be removed from the payroll and placed in the “Likely Deceased Pool.” Such pensioners can be reinstated once their aliveness is confirmed.Odunaiya reiterated PTAD’s commitment to ensuring seamless service delivery while enhancing the welfare of pensioners.
The legal team of suspended Kogi Central Senator, Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan, say they are ready with factil evidence to defend her in court.
The team received a formal summons in the case filed against her by the Federal Government at the Federal Capital Territory High Court last week.
On Friday, May 16, 2025, the Federal Government filed the suit, marked CR/297/25, over alleged defamatory remarks made during a live appearance on Channels Television’s Politics Today on April 3, 2025.
The government accused the senator of “making imputation knowing or having reason to believe that such imputation will harm the reputation of a person”, citing Section 391 of the Penal Code, cap 89, Laws of the Federation, 1990.
Among the witnesses listed to testify during the trial were Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and a former governor of Kogi State, Yahaya Bello.
Others include Asuquo Ekpenyong, a senator; Sandra Duru; Maya Iliya, investigating police officers; and Abdulhafiz Garba, investigating police officers.
However, in a statement issued Friday night by Dr. Ehiogie West-Idahosa (SAN) on behalf of the legal team, Akpoti-Uduaghan’s lawyers confirmed receipt of the formal summons and pledged to prepare all “factual and statutory defences” available to the lawmaker during trial.
“At about 2:30pm on Friday, May 23, 2025, within the premises of the Federal Capital Territory High Court, Abuja, we received the information filed by the Director of Public Prosecutions, containing three counts alleging that our client, Senator Natasha Akpoti-Uduaghan of Kogi Central, made imputations she had reason to believe would harm the reputation of Senator Godswill Akpabio, President of the 10th Senate,” the statement read.
“We received the said information on her behalf through a letter of authority duly issued and filed in the court’s registry.
“The legal team will fully prepare and present all factual and statutory defences available to our client during the trial.”
The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) will on Tuesday next week begin the take over of 4,794 properties in Abuja, including the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) headquarters, due to unpaid ground rent.
The PDP headquarters, currently under construction in Abuja’s Central Business District, is among the affected properties, having been revoked in March for several years of unpaid ground rent. The FCTA disclosed that 4,794 titles had been revoked for failure to pay ground rent, with some defaults dating back 43 years.
The affected properties are located in various districts, including Central Area, Garki I and II, Wuse I and II, Asokoro, Maitama, and Guzape.
The defaulters owe over N6.96 billion in ground rent. The FCTA had given a 21-day grace period for owners with debts under 10 years, which has now expired.
The FCTA officials announced that the takeover would begin on Monday, May 26, 2025, with the sealing off and restriction of access to the affected properties.
The Director of Land Administration, Chijioke Nwankwoeze emphasized that the revocations were carried out under Section 28(5)(a)(b) of the Land Use Act, which empowers the government to reclaim land when the terms of occupancy are violated.
Two people sustained serious injuries when a training aircraft crash-landed at the Ilorin International Airport on Friday.
Director of Public Affairs and Family Assistance, NSIB, Mrs Bimbo Oladeji, who disclosed this in a statement, said the incident occurred at 17:28 local time on May 23, 2025, during a simulated instrument approach on Runway 05 at Ilorin International Airport.
Oladeji said the aircraft veered off the runway and came to a stop on the grass verge, leaving the two occupants on board injured.
She stated: “Both sustained serious injuries and were swiftly evacuated to a medical facility, coordinated by the Nigerian Airspace Management Agency, NAMA.
“In response, the NSIB Go-Team is currently preparing to depart from Abuja to Ilorin to conduct on-site investigations. The team will secure the site, collect physical evidence, interview witnesses, and retrieve operational data to establish the cause and contributing factors of the incident.”
Quoting the Director General of the NSIB, Captain Alex Badeh Jr., she said “Our thoughts are with the injured, and we commend the swift medical and emergency response. Now, our focus is on understanding exactly what went wrong. Every investigation is an opportunity to improve safety. We are deploying our team to Ilorin to ensure that no detail is overlooked.”
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