The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate has disclosed that it disbursed a total of N55.9bn to pensioners and the next-of-kin of deceased retirees under the Defined Benefits Scheme in December 2025.

The disclosure was made in a statement issued on Friday and signed by the Head of the Corporate Communications Unit of the directorate, Olugbenga Ajayi.

According to the statement, “The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate has successfully disbursed a total sum of N55.9bn as monthly pensions and pension arrears to eligible pensioners and Next-of-Kins of deceased pensioners under the Defined Benefits Scheme in December 2025.”

The directorate explained that out of the total amount paid, N13.41bn was released as monthly pension payments to beneficiaries across all pension departments, including those residing in the diaspora.

The bulk of the funds, amounting to N42.5bn, was utilised to offset outstanding pension arrears owed to retirees and the next-of-kin of deceased pensioners.

PTAD stated that the arrears payment addressed outstanding liabilities arising from the N32,000 pension increment, as well as the 10.66 per cent and 12.95 per cent pension increases, alongside other accumulated arrears, gratuities and death benefits.

According to the statement, “The arrears payment covers outstanding obligations arising from the N32,000 pension increment, as well as the 10.66 per cent and 12.95 per cent pension increments, in addition to other accrued pension arrears, gratuity, and death benefits owed to eligible beneficiaries.”

A departmental breakdown of the arrears payment showed that the Police Pension Department received N5.88m for the settlement of arrears owed to five pensioners.

The Customs, Immigration and Prisons Pension Department recorded payments totalling N604.33m, covering 8,606 pensioners.

The Civil Service Pension Department received the largest allocation, with N16.36bn paid to 71,643 pensioners.

Under the Defunct and Transferred Agencies Department, beneficiaries were paid a total of N15.07bn, covering 24,995 pensioners.

The Parastatals Pension Department recorded arrears payments amounting to N7.81bn for 25,718 pensioners, while the Tertiary Education and Health Department received N2.37bn for the settlement of arrears owed to 28,245 pensioners.

In addition to the pension arrears, PTAD disclosed that N289.11m was released as gratuity and death benefits to eligible next-of-kin of deceased pensioners.

The directorate noted that the payments had fully cleared arrears arising from the N32,000 pension increment across all pension departments, except for one outstanding month each for pensioners under the Parastatals Pension Department and the Tertiary Education and Health Department.

The statement added, “With these payments, arrears resulting from the N32,000 pension increment have been fully liquidated across all pension departments, except for one month each outstanding for pensioners in the PaPD and TEHD.”

Commenting on the development, the Executive Secretary of PTAD, Tolulope Odunaiya, said the disbursements underscored the Federal Government’s commitment to the welfare of senior citizens.

She said the payments “reflect President Bola Tinubu’s unwavering commitment to the welfare of senior citizens, in line with the administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.”

Odunaiya also assured that efforts were ongoing to ensure that the remaining outstanding arrears would be settled.