PTAD disburses N13.87 billion pension increment arrears to 18,822 retirees

The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has paid N13.87 billion in pension increment arrears to 18,822 pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS), covering outstanding entitlements through October 2026.

According to a statement issued by PTAD’s Head of Corporate Communications, Olugbenga Ajayi, on Sunday in Abuja, the payments cover arrears arising from the 13.8% and 20.55% pension increments approved by President Bola Tinubu.

The payments cover outstanding pension increases dating back to June 2021, with different arrears periods applying to pensioners of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) and five other defunct agencies.

Breakdown of the pension arrears

According to Ajayi, the N9.42 billion paid to former PHCN pensioners represents 65 months of arrears arising from the 13.8% pension increment, covering June 1, 2021, to October 31, 2026.

• The remaining N4.46 billion was paid to eligible pensioners of the defunct Peoples Bank of Nigeria, Assurance Bank, NICON Insurance, Nigerian Reinsurance Corporation, and NITEL/MTEL.
• The payments to these five groups represent 22 months of arrears arising from the 20.55% pension increment, covering January 1, 2025, to October 31, 2026.

Both pension increments were approved by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission (NSIWC) through a circular dated January 14, 2026.

Government’s commitment to pensioners

PTAD described the payments as part of the Federal Government’s commitment to improving the welfare of senior citizens and addressing longstanding pension anomalies.

Ajayi said the intervention reflected the administration’s determination to ensure retirees received their entitlements with dignity.

He also reiterated the directorate’s commitment to efficient pension administration, timely payment of entitlements, and continuous improvement in the welfare of pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme.

PTAD’s previous pension arrears payments

PTAD’s latest disbursement follows previous payments aimed at settling outstanding pension arrears and adjusting retirement benefits for eligible pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme.

• On August 11, 2025, the Federal Government released N5.12 billion through PTAD to 90,689 Defined Benefit Scheme pensioners. The payments covered beneficiaries across the Civil Service, Police, Parastatals, Customs, Immigration and Prisons pension departments.
• In August 2026, Nairametrics reported that PTAD disbursed N3.8 billion in pension arrears to 30,356 pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme following a review of pension computations.
• In September 2026, PTAD paid N18.96 billion to settle outstanding pension computation arrears owed to 3,958 eligible pensioners of the defunct Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN).

In April 2026, PTAD announced that it had paid the final one-month arrears of the N32,000 pension increment to 54,206 eligible DBS pensioners, disbursing approximately N1.73 billion.