Federal pensioners reaffirm protest plan if benefits arrears not paid from N58b approved
By Jeph Ajobaju, Chief Copy Editor
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“We are hungry. Food is medicine, yet without it, medicine is meaningless. Pensioners are starving ….
“Union officials are demanding release of the N58 billion approved by the President to ensure compliance and implementation of the increase and payment of seven to eight months’ arrears owed them.
“We are giving government two weeks to meet our demands or we will protest. PTAD should ensure release of the funds by Finance Ministry and Accountant-General’s Office” – retirees
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Federal retirees in the Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP) have reaffirmed their determination to protest in Abuja on October 1 over the non-payment of the N32,000 increase in their benefits, and to escalate the agitation to a nationwide “naked protest” on October 6 if the government refuses to meet their demands.
They said they have been deprived of their share in the implementation of the increase in the minimum wage from N30,000 per month to N70,000.
The Coalition of Federal Pensioners of Nigeria (CFPN) NIPOST Chapter threatened the nationwide “naked protest” if the government fails to implement pension increments and palliatives.
A statement issued on Wednesday in Abuja by NUP National President Frederick Eguaoba said the Federal Ministry of Finance and Office of Accountant General of the Federation are yet to effect payment, despite President Bola Tinubu’s approval of N58 billion to pay the increase.
“Union officials are demanding release of the N58 billion approved by the President to ensure compliance and implementation of the increase and payment of seven to eight months’ arrears owed them,” Eguaoba stressed.
“We are giving government two weeks to meet our demands or we will protest. PTAD should ensure release of the funds by Finance Ministry and Accountant-General’s Office.”
Hunger as central grievance
CFPN National Chairman Mukaila Ogunbote announced plan for the “naked protest” at a news conference in Lagos on Tuesday.
Ogunbote, who also chairs NUP NIPOST Chapter, explained that pensioners have given the government until September ending to settle arrears, increments, and palliatives, and failure to act would leave the pensioners with no choice bu to embark on a nationwide “naked protest” on October 6.
He said the protest would expose government failures and highlight pensioners’ grievances before the public.
Ogunbote recounted that Tinubu in October 2023 approved N35,000 for workers and N25,000 for pensioners as palliatives.
He said workers received their payment within one month of approval, yet pensioners are still waiting for theirs more than a year later.
Workers have since demanded and received additional palliatives for 10 months, he added, while pensioners’ requests for six months’ worth remains unmet.
Ogunbote disclosed that Tinubu has also directed an increase of N13,000 in pensions, but no implementation has followed from the Ministry of Finance or the Accountant-General.
“When we enquired, we were told our N32,000 increment was omitted from both the 2024 and 2025 budgets. This is injustice,” he declared.
Fashola Oluwo, a retiree from the Ministry of Information, sought the questioning of officials who fail to implement Tinubu’s directive.
Oluwo lamented that pensioners struggle because the increment is not even adequate for the rising cost of living as many retirees cannot afford essential medication and some have died waiting for their pension arrears.
Dupe Ogunniyi, a retiree from the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), appealed to Remi Tinubu to intervene with her husband on behalf of pensioners who rely solely on their benefits for survival and also support unemployed graduate children.
Former NUP Lagos Chairman Adebola Akinduture stressed that hunger is the central grievance of the geriatrics.
“We are hungry. Food is medicine, yet without it, medicine is meaningless. Pensioners are starving,” he lamented.
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