By: VITALIS UGOH, Calabar.
The fate of New Nigerian Newspaper staff who are waiting patiently for the payment of their pensions and gratuity by the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) is now hanging as no definite date has been fixed for their verification exercise, sources to the office has disclosed.
The source who claimed that he is directly in the department that is responsible for NNN issue said “this exercise is not for you now”.
Some retired staff of New Nigerian newspaper had gone to the venue for the on going verification of Federal civil servants at the headquarters of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), Cross River for the exercise.
The Executive Secretary of PTAD, Barr. Sharon Ikeazor had late last year assured management and executives of pensioners of NNN that their case would be handled within the first quarter of 2017.
Ikeazor was also quoted to have promised to commence the monthly pensions before the actual verification as the New Nigerian case is very peculiar.
Speaking to our Correspondent in Calabar during the ongoing verification exercise for Federal civil servants in Cross River and Akwa Ibom, a member of the team said “Sir you are not part of this exercise. We shall inform you people as soon as we ready”.
When queried further as to when, he retorted “before the end of the year. We shall call NNN staff and other para-military agencies for the exercise”.
Also giving further explanation, a senior staff in the team said “we are aware of your case and you know the current situation in the country. You will be among the next batch I promise which comprises of parastatals and other para-military Agencies”.
Meanwhile, there are rumours that the New Nigerian issue was not captures in the 2017 budget.
This ugly and sad news is creating unease amongst retirees of New Nigerian.
Majority of them have either lost their lives or are incapacitated.
Some of them who spoke to our Correspondent appealed to the Executive Secretary to use her good offices to intervene to save lives.
Some New Nigerian staff were retired for over 17 years now with some receiving not a dime as monthly pensions.
The source who claimed that he is directly in the department that is responsible for NNN issue said “this exercise is not for you now”.
Some retired staff of New Nigerian newspaper had gone to the venue for the on going verification of Federal civil servants at the headquarters of the Independent Electoral Commission (INEC), Cross River for the exercise.
The Executive Secretary of PTAD, Barr. Sharon Ikeazor had late last year assured management and executives of pensioners of NNN that their case would be handled within the first quarter of 2017.
Ikeazor was also quoted to have promised to commence the monthly pensions before the actual verification as the New Nigerian case is very peculiar.
Speaking to our Correspondent in Calabar during the ongoing verification exercise for Federal civil servants in Cross River and Akwa Ibom, a member of the team said “Sir you are not part of this exercise. We shall inform you people as soon as we ready”.
When queried further as to when, he retorted “before the end of the year. We shall call NNN staff and other para-military agencies for the exercise”.
Also giving further explanation, a senior staff in the team said “we are aware of your case and you know the current situation in the country. You will be among the next batch I promise which comprises of parastatals and other para-military Agencies”.
Meanwhile, there are rumours that the New Nigerian issue was not captures in the 2017 budget.
This ugly and sad news is creating unease amongst retirees of New Nigerian.
Majority of them have either lost their lives or are incapacitated.
Some of them who spoke to our Correspondent appealed to the Executive Secretary to use her good offices to intervene to save lives.
Some New Nigerian staff were retired for over 17 years now with some receiving not a dime as monthly pensions.
