PTAD to pay ex-Biafran police officers pensions benefits

Police officers who served in the Biafran side during the Nigerian civil war from 1967-1970 would receive their pensions benefits from the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) from Friday, October 20, 2017 in Enugu.

Although, this is coming 47 years after the war, the pensions payment is eventually being made 17 years after they were granted presidential pardon for fighting on the Biafran side.

PTAD’s spokesman, Emma Okondo, said in a statement that after a protracted delay in the payment of the pensions by the defunct Police Pension Office, 162 officers would be pay rolled while 57 next of kin who had not been paid their death benefits would be paid in the first batch.

Currently, an unspecified number of retired police officers excluding those who fought on the Biafran side, but retired from service, are being owed over 30 months pension arrears.

Okondo recalled that the country witnessed a civil war between July, 1967 and January, 1970 and as a result of that unfortunate period in the nation’s history, some members of the Armed Forces, the Nigeria Police and the Paramilitary Officers who took sides with the secessionists were dismissed from service.

However, he said their dismissal was commuted to retirement in the year 2000 through a Presidential Amnesty granted on May 29, 2000 by the administration of former President Olusegun Obasanjo.

He also said a verification exercise was conducted for the pardoned officers by the defunct Police Pension Office and recently PTAD on one hand and the Police Service Commission on the other.

He regretted that despite the presidential pardon and verification of the officers, most of them had not been paid almost two decades after.

“However, the present administration under President Muhammadu Buhari, has graciously approved the payment of pension entitlements to the officers or their next of kin.

“PTAD is commencing the payment of the pensions benefits to the retired war police officers on Friday, October 20, 2017 in Enugu.  162 officers will be pay rolled while 57 next of kin who have also not been paid their death benefits will be paid in the first batch,” he explained.