President Bola Tinubu has made a significant change in the leadership of the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) with the dismissal of Chioma Ejikeme as Executive Secretary. The president has appointed Tolulope Abiodun Odunaiya as her successor, effective immediately. This development was confirmed by the spokesman for PTAD, Olugbenga Ajayi, in a statement issued on Monday.
Ajayi expressed the directorate’s enthusiasm about the new appointment, emphasizing its importance to the organization and its stakeholders. “We are delighted to inform our public, especially PTAD pensioners and other stakeholders, of the appointment of Miss Tolulope Abiodun Odunaiya by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu as the substantive Executive Secretary of the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD),” he said.
Tolulope Abiodun Odunaiya officially assumed her new role on Monday, November 18, 2024, at the PTAD headquarters in Abuja. The directorate’s management and staff were present to welcome her and show their support as she began her tenure.
The leadership change comes just over a month after Chioma Ejikeme’s reappointment to the position, which had taken effect on October 10, 2023. Ejikeme’s tenure was abruptly cut short by the president’s decision, though the reasons for her dismissal were not immediately made public.
Odunaiya’s appointment marks a new chapter for PTAD, which plays a crucial role in managing pension matters for federal government retirees. As the new Executive Secretary, Odunaiya is expected to bring fresh leadership to the agency, which has been pivotal in ensuring the welfare of retired civil servants.
Stakeholders, including pensioners who rely on PTAD for their retirement benefits, are eager to see how Odunaiya will steer the directorate moving forward. The change in leadership is expected to bring both challenges and opportunities for reform within the agency.
As of now, the government has not disclosed any specific reasons behind the sacking of Chioma Ejikeme, leaving the transition to Odunaiya as the focal point of attention within the public sector. The coming weeks will likely reveal the new Executive Secretary’s priorities and any potential changes she intends to make in the management of pension affairs.
