The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has disbursed a total of N55.9 billion to pensioners and next-of-kin under the Defined Benefits Scheme in December 2025, the agency said in a statement on Friday.
Nigeria pension payments as PTAD clears N55.9bn in December
According to Olugbenga Ajayi, Head of the Corporate Communications Unit, N13.41 billion of the sum was paid as monthly pensions to beneficiaries across all departments, including those in the diaspora. The remaining N42.5 billion was allocated to clear outstanding arrears owed to retirees and eligible next-of-kin.
PTAD said the arrears payment addressed obligations arising from the earlier N32,000 pension increment and the 10.66 per cent and 12.95 per cent adjustments, as well as other accumulated pension arrears, gratuities and death benefits.
The directorate provided a departmental breakdown of the arrears payments. The Civil Service Pension Department received the largest allocation, with N16.36 billion paid to 71,643 pensioners. The Defunct and Transferred Agencies Department was paid N15.07 billion covering 24,995 pensioners.
Other payments included N7.81 billion to the Parastatals Pension Department for 25,718 pensioners and N2.37 billion to the Tertiary Education and Health Department for 28,245 pensioners. The Customs, Immigration and Prisons Pension Department recorded N604.33 million to 8,606 pensioners, while the Police Pension Department received N5.88 million for five pensioners. In addition, N289.11 million was paid as gratuity and death benefits to eligible next-of-kin.
PTAD noted that the December disbursement fully cleared arrears arising from the N32,000 pension increment across all pension departments except for one outstanding month each for pensioners in the Parastatals Pension Department and the Tertiary Education and Health Department. The agency said it would address the remaining amounts.
Commenting on the payments, PTAD Executive Secretary Tolulope Odunaiya said the disbursements reaffirm the Federal Government’s commitment to the welfare of senior citizens. She linked the payments to President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda and said the directorate would continue measures to improve the wellbeing of Defined Benefits Scheme pensioners.
PTAD oversees pensions for retirees covered by the pre-2004 Defined Benefits Scheme, primarily former federal government workers who retired before Nigeria moved to a contributory pension system. The directorate’s latest payments aim to reduce long-standing liabilities and deliver delayed entitlements to a large cohort of retired public servants.
Analysts said the clearance of several months of arrears is likely to provide immediate relief to many pensioners who rely on these payments for daily living expenses. The payments also reduce a source of political pressure on the government as it balances social obligations with fiscal constraints.
PTAD has assured beneficiaries that it will finalise the residual arrears and continue efforts to streamline pension administration under the Defined Benefits Scheme.
Key Takeaways:
- Nigeria pension payments of N55.9bn were disbursed in December 2025, covering monthly pensions and arrears.
- Total included N13.41bn in monthly pensions and N42.5bn to clear accumulated arrears, gratuities and death benefits.
- Most departments have had arrears from the N32,000 increase fully cleared; only one month remains for two departments.
- The payments signal government commitment to senior citizens under the Defined Benefits Scheme.
