NIGERIA: ICPC, PTAD Join Forces to Tackle Pension Fraud, Protect Retirees

By Ameenat Hamzat, Lagos, Nigeria 

The Independent Corrupt Practices and Other Related Offences Commission (ICPC) and the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to curb pension fraud and safeguard the entitlements of Nigerian retirees.

At the signing ceremony on Wednesday, ICPC Chairman, Dr. Musa Adamu Aliyu, SAN, condemned the exploitation of pensioners through fraudulent schemes, describing it as an era that must end.

He declared: “The era of tolerating such acts is over. By combining PTAD’s robust, increasingly digitized database with the investigative and prosecutorial powers of ICPC, we are creating a formidable force against pension fraud.”

He stressed that the collaboration would promote information sharing, joint investigations, and the swift prosecution of those who prey on pensioners.

The ICPC Chairman further noted: “We owe it to our parents and grandparents, who dedicated their lives to this nation, to guarantee that their post-service years are marked by peace, not endless struggles for entitlements.”

PTAD’s Executive Secretary, Tolulope Abiodun Odunaiya, also l hailed the agreement as a defining moment in the service of pensioners. She emphasized the agencies’ shared commitment to transparency and accountability.

“The signing of this MoU is a clear testament to our joint resolve to uphold integrity and deliver on our mandates to pensioners and stakeholders,” Odunaiya said.