In a push to improve healthcare access for retired Nigerians, the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has revealed plans to enrol its pensioners into the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) next year.

The move is part of broader efforts to enhance the welfare of senior citizens and expand pension reforms.The initiative, developed in collaboration with the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), was announced in Lagos during the 2024/2025 yearly General Meeting of the National Association of Insurance/Pension Editors (NAIPE).

Speaking at the event on behalf of the Executive Secretary/Chief Executive Officer, Tolulope Odunaiya, the Head of Corporate Communication, Olugbenga Ajayi, said the planned enrolment underscores the agency?s growing focus on ensuring that pensioners have access to critical health services.

According to him, the well-being of pensioners remains paramount.?We understand that this is the stage in life when healthcare is not a luxury but a necessity,? he said.

Ajayi said the organisation has started discussing with NHIA to ensure that by 2026, at least 90 per cent of pensioners in the country would be covered under the NHIS.

For him, the agency has continued to roll out various initiatives to make life easier for its retirees. Among these is the introduction of mobile verification, which provides off-site confirmation for incapacitated or ill pensioners who are unable to undergo the regular ?I am Alive? verification process.

?Our teams from Lagos and Kaduna regularly visit retirees to ensure they are not left out, especially those in poor health. This is part of our broader commitment to efficient, humane pension administration,? he said.

Beyond healthcare, the agency reaffirmed its resolve to clear all outstanding pension arrears and implement statutory increments.

The directorate said it was working closely with relevant authorities to ensure that by 2026, all entitlements are fully budgeted and paid without delays. (The Guardian)

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