Re: In support of a refocused PTAD

Hassan Ibrahim Lemu’s piece in the Daily Trust of Wednesday, November 8 titled, “In support of a refocused PTAD” is fascinating.

PTAD was set up during the terrible days when pensioners were callously denied their pensions. This was done in broad daylight without shame, with bursting impunity. As a victim I observed in utter disgust when after 2 years of non-payment of my pension, I traveled from Yola to Abuja to make inquiries. The middle cadre official at the Head of Service office showed me my file to confirm that I would be paid very soon. I saw a PV of 2.5 million naira in my name in 2008 but no payment was effected up till today. I remained an unpaid pensioner for 41 months, January 2007 to May 2010. I was enrolled courtesy of the Maina committee after forty one grueling months in 2006. I suffered economic and social down grade, my children education was upset, my attempt business enterprise collapsed while I saw several releases from government for pensioners payments of arrears disappeared at the paying points. I was there when one sick pensioner was forced to appear in person in Abuja to be verified before payment and his dead body was found in the bus that brought him to Abuja. I’ve made over 17 trips in search of my pension and 41 months arrears to no avail.

I started getting my pension paid monthly from June, 2010 and even that I would miss one or sometimes up to three months without payment and with no justifiable reasons. I was paid some installments which made a mockery of the purpose of the pension thereby further pauperising me. I have been getting consolation from a directorate official who had been assisting me when situations get out of hand.

That is me even with a friend, I’m yet to be settled my forty one month’s arrears. The senior Lemu was lucky to have his case published in the newspapers for which the attention of the PTAD executive secretary was drawn. Her response showed her humane touch. I understand the feelings expressed by Hassan Ibrahim Lemu and family members. How I wish I could but lucky. For the Senior Lemu been an honest and upright man I congratulate the family for honesty has paid off here on earth and I pray better payment in the hereafter. You can never tell; on retiring on the 8th of January 2006, I handed over to my successor ten million naira for students’ feeding after I managed to feed about two thousand students boarders of Federal Government College, Sokoto as the principal. My staff called me several names including ‘mumu’ for ‘foolishly’ handing over what they described as parting gift on my retirement. But I knew the ten million naira was for the school.

Sa’adu Abubakar, retired Deputy Director/Principal FGC, Sokoto (2003 - 2006).