EXCLUSIVE: Suspicion, As PTAD Is Linked To Kickback Scandal In ex-DSC Pensioners’ Levy Payment Scheme

It Is A Scam – PTAD Boss, Chioma Ejikeme

There is some level of suspicion in pension payment processes after the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), issued a disclaimer on a DSC ‘levy payment scheme’ by ex-workers jostling for their delayed payment.

PTAD had alleged plot by some suspected fraudsters to rip-off former workers of the Delta Steel Company (DSC), Ovwain-Aladja, Delta State.

But BIGPENNGR.COM investigations revealed that a group of ex-workers of DSC had in a ‘letter of reminder’ dated December 15, 2020, actually levied themselves money to pursue the payment of their over delayed pension.

It was learnt that ex-workers of the steel company usually taxed themselves money ranging from N2,000, N3,000, N5,000, N9,000, N14,000, N20,000 and N28,000 depending on ones levels before retirement, to pursue their pension in Abuja.

THIS IS A SCAM. pic.twitter.com/IMQFa5KFYq

— Dr Chioma Ejikeme (@chiomanejikeme) December 20, 2020

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Part of the levy collected from the pensioners is reportedly used as kickbacks for officials at the PTAD.

The money, according to an insider is use to pay accommodation for those often send to Abuja, take care of the running around and also to ‘appreciate’ some officials who process their payment papers at PTAD.

However, PTAD’s Executive Secretary, Chioma Ejikeme, appeared to be worried that some of the so-called leadership of the pensioners could be ripping-off other members of the group under the guise of pursuing pension pay when in actual sense no money is given at the PTAD to have pensioners’ papers process for payment.

The ex-workers, in a letter which was discredited by PTAD, had called on their members to pay up the levy which was unanimously agreed upon by the former workers in a meeting held in February 2017.

In the letter seen by BIGPEN, the pensioners claimed that the failure of its members to pay up the levy was one reason “those concern” in the reportedly agreement to bring in some kickbacks from pensioners are unwilling to process their payment at PTAD.

“We once again wish to reminder you of out unanimous resolution reached and adopted at the General meeting of all all Ex-DSC workers held at the DSC Model Primary School II on the 25, February, 2017; that we will pay levy to appreciate those who had helped us thus far and accumulated debts.

“The status now is that we have not be able to meet our commitment/indebtedness to those concerned. This is largely due to the fact that only a few paid the levy.

“Another bulk payment has now being made by PTAD from our pension arrears. We hereby appeal to those who have not paid the levy to do so in accordance with the table below (refer to the letter tweeted by Ejikeme) at the banks or Rideno Clinic along Ibadan Road (Opposite Kaduna Street Junction) Steel Town I.

In the letter, the pensioners mentioned Union Bank and Polaris Bank as receivers of the payment levy, urging the ex-workers to make payment to the accounts and then tender their bank pay slip at a designated address for it to be converted to payment receipt (s).

“Pensioners should note that the epileptic and incomplete payment of their pension arrears is mainly due to our inability to fulfil our obligations. If we do the needful, our situation will change”, the letter which was signed by Dr R, Obiuwevbi as chairman and Mr. K.O Emunator as Secretary further read.

But PTAD’s Executive Secretary, Mrs Chioma Ejikeme, tagged the letter a scam, saying emphatically that PTAD will never collect bribes for arrears paid nor demand gratification for arrears to be paid.

THIS IS A SCAM. PTAD WILL NEVER COLLECT GRATIFICATION FOR ARREAS PAID NOR DEMAND GRATIFICATION FOR ARREAS TO BE PAID. DELTA STEEL ALADJA PENSIONERS BEWARE OF PENSION FRAUDSTERS. NNN, NIGERIAN- RE, NICON INSURANCE TAKE NOTE PLEASE.

— Dr Chioma Ejikeme (@chiomanejikeme) December 20, 2020

BIGPEN was however told by one of the elderly pensioner who simply gave his name as Elder Michael Nwanji, in a telephone conversation that the said letter was actually genuine and not a scam.

According to him, the phone numbers in the letter and names mentioned are verifiable, saying that the letter and its content have nothing to do with PTAD.

He accused those who sent the letter to PTAD boss as saboteurs in their midst, saying “in every society there are Judas”.

“It is a reminder of a resolution we had sometimes ago. It was signed by our chairman and secretary, It is genuine and not fake. It is signed by Dr R. Obiuwevbi and K. Emunotor, I don’t know if that is the letter you are talking about, it is a reminder of an agreement by the general House.

When asked again if the letter was a scam or not, he said, “no, no it is not a scam. If it is the one dated recently and signed by those two persons it is not a scam. It was an executive order that we should remind workers of what we agreed upon. Some have paid, some are yet to paid. It is not a scam, is a reminder”

When reminded that it was PTAD’s boss that tagged the letter a scam, the elderly pensioner retorted; “I would have been happy to know the person who sent her the letter to know whether he is among members or someone who just want to give people bad name. It is an agreement we reached”.

According to him, the letter has nothing to do with PTAD and her officials, stressing that it was an internal memo directed to pensioners in DSC.

“It is not PTAD at all. The person who must have given it to her is a 419ner. She is not connected, her office is not connected. It is a DSC affair. If they send it to her, you should find out who send it to her and why. I think it is just a plot to discredit people unnecessarily. It is not connected to PTAD at all.

“Thank you for reaching out to us. It has nothing to do with PTAD. It was a general agreement reached in DSC within pensioners for the purpose of clearing their accumulated arrears. It has nothing to do with Chioma or PTAD. If they had sent it to her, then she should be kind enough to give you the person that sent it to her so that you can reach the person to explain why he had given it to the woman.

“We think it is handiwork of saboteur among us, that’s why we would love to know the person. Let the woman send the message to the person who gave it to her that we said it is not a scam. Let her help so that the person can be well understood. We need to know why he sent it to her and know why he did what he did because actually in every ten, there is a Judas”.