The Coalition of Federal Pensioners of Nigeria has threatened fresh protests over outstanding pension arrears, delayed monthly payments and alleged irregularities in pension harmonisation, urging the Federal Government to urgently address the concerns of retirees.
The National General Secretary of the coalition, Comrade Gbadamosi Ganiyu, made this known during an interview on Trade FM, where he lamented the difficulties pensioners face amid rising inflation and the increasing cost of living.
Ganiyu said some pensioners had yet to receive their October pensions as of October 26, making it difficult for many retirees to meet essential needs, including food, transportation, healthcare and electricity bills.
He also expressed concern over accumulated pension arrears, stating that some retirees were reportedly owed more than 18 months of payments, while others were still awaiting the settlement of outstanding benefits.
On pension harmonisation, the coalition’s National General Secretary explained that the exercise was intended to address disparities in the pensions of retirees who left service at different times.
However, he alleged that some pensioners had received negligible increases, including amounts as low as ₦300 and ₦1,000, which he said did not adequately address the disparities.
Ganiyu further disclosed that pensioners were yet to receive parity payments introduced to cushion the effects of the removal of the petrol subsidy, claiming that the benefits had remained outstanding since 2023.
He said the coalition had written repeatedly to relevant government authorities, including the Ministries of Finance and Humanitarian Affairs, seeking clarification and the release of the outstanding payments.
The pensioners’ representative warned that the coalition might organise another protest in Abuja if the government failed to respond to its demands, although he expressed a preference for resolving the issues through dialogue.
He called on the Federal Government to ensure timely monthly pension payments, settle outstanding arrears, address discrepancies in pension harmonisation and improve the administration of retirees’ benefits.
Ganiyu also appealed to other pensioners’ associations and members of the public to support the campaign, stressing that retirees deserved adequate welfare and timely payment of their entitlements after years of service to the country.
The coalition maintained that it would continue to press the government for action, urging the relevant authorities to resolve the outstanding issues and prevent further hardship among retired federal workers.
