By Caleb Ayansina
ABUJA – A civil society group has called on the federal government to investigate the management of pensions fund in Nigeria.

This was as a result of allegations of ghost workers and perceived corrupt practices in the Pension Transitional Arrangement Department (PTAD) under the new management.

The group, under the umbrella body of Movement for Transparency and Corruption Watch Nigeria (MTCWN), has accused the new management of PTAD of allegedly influencing the staff strength from 900 to unverified 1700 workers within a short period.

The National Coordinator, Mr. Adah Samuel Inyada, who was speaking in a press conference, in Abuja, said the difference in the number of staff was suspicious and could be a case of ghost workers.

According to him, “The federal government should direct that pensioners currently under the payment of the present management be investigated because while Nellie Mayshack was in charge, there were 900 verified persons but today, they claimed to be paying 1700 pensioners.”

The group also accused the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation of frustrating efforts of the former management because of its refusal to allow powerful interests access to the funds.

They therefore demanded that the anti-graft agencies be directed to investigate activities of the new management of the Parastatal.

“While Nigerians and the world await the report of the committee that is looking into the alleged diversion of the N50 million salary against the suspended head of the Parastatal, we urge the committee to expedite action in their findings.

“Meanwhile, the Ministry of Finance should publish the report for the public to know what transpired in PTAD under the current administration,” the group said.

But while the investigation continued, the group has canvassed reinstatement of the suspended D.G.