Pensioners plan nationwide protest over pension increment

 

Members of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners said they will on Friday embark on a massive nationwide protest over the failure of the government to increase their pension.

 

Outgoing President of the NUP, Abel Afolayan, disclosed this in Abuja at the 11th quadrennial delegate conference of the union on Wednesday.

 

He said his members would ground the Office of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation during the protest.

 

Afolayan told newsmen that the union had issued to the federal government an ultimatum on the protest but nothing has been done, insisting that the pensioners cannot continue to languish in abject poverty amidst rising prices of daily needs.

 

The senior citizen said, “We are protesting because they have refused to release the letter of pension increment consequential upon the minimum wage and salary adjustment to workers, two years after that was done.

 

“The welfare of pensioners are still terrible. The pensioners are not being treated well at all. Many pensioners are suffering. Some earn as low as N5,000 and they are not being paid as and when due. Even as we speak now, the pension increase, consequential upon the national minimum wage and salary adjustment, is yet to be effected two years after those of the workers have been done.”

 

But the Minister of Labour and Employment, Chris Ngige said the federal government was mindful of the sacrifices and contributions of retirees to the nation and is committed to taking necessary steps to address welfare issues.

 

Ngige, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment, Dr Yerima Tarfa, said the lingering issue of consequential adjustment to pension of Nigerian pensioners has been overdue since 2019 when the new Minimum Wage Act was signed into law by the President, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.).

 

He assured that the ministry has taken the lead in ensuring that the review is achieved.

 

He said, “Distinguished senior citizens, permit me to use this opportunity to inform you that the Federal Government is mindful of your sacrifices and contributions to the Nigerian project and is committed to taking necessary steps to address issues that border on improving your welfare.

 

“My ministry has decided to take the lead on the lingering issue of consequential adjustment to pension of Nigerian pensioners which had been overdue since 2019 when the new Minimum Wage Act was signed into law by Mr. President. In this regard, therefore, we are hopeful that working with other agencies of government, there would be some light at the end of the tunnel.”

President of the Nigeria Labour Congress, Ayuba Wabba, decried the plight of pensioners in the country, adding that the condition of pensioners is lamentable.

 

He said, “I call on governments to prioritise the payment of pensioners as and when due. The issue is not of fund to pay but priority. Imo State remain the worst in payment.”