Federal pensioners on Monday took to the streets of Lagos in a heated protest against the Federal Government’s failure to pay their ₦32,000 pension-increment arrears and the ₦25,000 palliative allowance approved for retirees.
The protesters, under the Coalition of Federal Pensioners of Nigeria, warned that they would launch a nationwide naked protest next week if the outstanding payments remain withheld.
The group said they had initially planned a nude demonstration but suspended it following pleas from prominent Nigerians, who assured them that the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) was working to resolve the issue. But according to the pensioners, nothing has changed.
Speaking during the demonstration, the coalition’s National Chairman, Mukaila Ogunbote, said retirees were tired of empty promises.
“We came out today for a peaceful protest. This was supposed to be a naked protest, but we suspended it because prominent Nigerians intervened. Unfortunately, since then, nothing has happened,” he said.
Ogunbote demanded the immediate payment of the six-month ₦25,000 palliative approved in 2023 and the ₦32,000 increment announced in July 2024. He accused the government of treating pensioners with disregard.
“Workers and corps members got their payments within a month when the new minimum wage took effect. Pensioners got nothing. What exactly is our offence? Is it a crime to grow old?”
He questioned PTAD’s claim that ₦45 billion had been released for pension payments, asking why retirees still had not been paid.
He issued a final ultimatum: if the government fails to act by Friday, pensioners nationwide will embark on a naked protest next Monday.
Another pensioner, Gbadamosi Ganiu of the NIPOST chapter of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners, lamented the dire condition of retirees, many of whom live on stipends that can barely cover transportation and medication.
“Some pensioners receive less than ₦60,000 monthly. People even borrow money to attend protests. At 80 and 90 years old, they are still begging to survive,” he said.
A member of the Federal Civil Service Pensioners, Mrs. Adetokunbo, accused officials of withholding funds meant for retirees, noting that some pensioners who retired as far back as 2006 have never received any benefits.
The protesters also criticised the Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP), alleging that it has aligned with government authorities instead of defending retirees.
Pensioners further demanded that their December pensions be paid on December 20 instead of January, threatening another round of protests on December 28 if this is ignored.
The demonstration ended with a unified plea to President Bola Tinubu, Finance Minister Wale Edun, and the Accountant-General of the Federation to urgently intervene and end what they described as a shameful neglect of elderly citizens who served the nation.
Comments