Many people reacted to last week’s column. Following is a selection of the comments I received.
“When I got to where you mentioned that you didn’t want to stay too long on the phone, because you knew your father would cry, I also got emotional. You caused me to remember my own relationship with my father. Thank you so much for doing this for the old man.”
– Alhaji Abubakar Usman, Bauchi.
“Good day, Mal Ibraheem Dooba. I must commend your article on the performance of PTAD, particularly on the exceptional and selfless efforts of the Executive Secretary, Sharon Ikeazor. It’s an impressive piece for a deserving public officer and the organization she represents.
“Also sir, I would like you to pen another article regarding her efforts and milestones reached on the New Nigerian Newspaper pensioners. PTAD is currently working on reinstating them on their pension payroll. The retired staff of NNN were verified last year through a well organised exercise. PTAD staff are really doing an excellent job.
“Kindly also add a request to the Executive Secretary, Sharon Ikeazor as to when the NNN pensioners will commence receiving their monthly pensions. Thank you very much.”
– Mohammed Aliyu Lokoja, Former NNN staff.
“Salam. Happy to hear about your father’s case. Kindly sustain the cause so that my own father, who retired back in 1992 and others like him who may not be fortunate to have access to Madam Sharon, will be paid.”
– Mohd Abdullahi from Minna
Response:
Thanks for your comment, Mal Mohammad. It’s good to know that you’re in Minna, because a week after my dad’s authentication, a general verification was done in Minna for federal pensioners in Niger State. It’s likely you took your dad to the exercise? If you did, then you should expect payment soon. Although after verification, it took three months before my father was paid. If your old man didn’t do the verification, however, you can initiate a complaint from PTAD website. Just google “PTAD Nigeria” to get to the site.
“Salam. Congratulations, but please continue the fight as the pension increase arears since 2009 are yet to be paid. Thanks.”
– 08037866444
“Please hold your three votes; we don’t need them. When issues affect some set of people personally, they quickly pick their pen and go to press, but if it’s a general issue, mum is the word or they pretend they are not aware. I admonish that your discourse (though sometimes you do) should please be on issues that affect the generality of the people, those that are advantaged and those that are NOT so advantaged to have a columnist who will pen down their stories in newspapers. That to me is just and fair. Meanwhile, congratulations for finally securing your dad’s benefits, Allah Yayi ma albarka.
– Mal Sagir Muhammad, Minna.
Response:
Mal Sagir is a friend who loves to shoot admonitory darts at everything I write – say and do. So the above comment was written with his tongue firmly in cheek – that is, in a jocular manner. He however, raised an important question. Do I write for myself or for the people? Like Sagir, grudgingly admitted above, I write mostly for the people. I’ve fought for others (both groups and individuals) using this column. Yet, another question follows: are occasional personal battles merited? I honestly don’t know. But it’s my opinion that if I can’t use my abilities – in this case, writing ability – to help my parents, I would be a useless son. Frankly, I would be fundamentally worthless.
That said, even I felt guilty when a mobile verification was done for my father, but was pleasantly surprised by the reaction of my father’s friends whom I thought would be unhappy for being left out. However, they were rather happy – jubilant even. They congratulated my father, they prayed for me: “what a son,” they said, “what a son!”
Yet, I felt abashed, embarrassed. Relief only came when a week after, PTAD came to Niger State to verify everyone – just as they promised.
In fact, this crusade itself started as a fight for many, not only my father. For example, I would go to PTAD and asked when they were coming to Niger State, not when they were coming to my father. At a point however, I realized that they did mobile verification for some Nigerians. And since he’s a Nigerian, I thought my father qualified to receive that priviledge.
Finally, on behalf of the long suffering pensioners, we commend Madam Sharon for what she’s doing. Some may argue that she’s only doing her job and so, shouldn’t be commended. This is true. But in this country, how many people are doing their jobs? Therefore, the exceptional ones like her merit our mentions.
But it’s said that the largest room is the room for improvement. So I implore her to do more. Those yet to be captured should be captured. Those who have been verified and have not been paid, should be given a swift relief. And may God have mercy on our parents.
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