Retirees in Abuja say prolonged delays in pension payments have worsened their suffering amid inflation.
They urge urgent disbursement, citing hunger, medical issues, and rising deaths among elderly pensioners.
Pensioners in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) have raised the alarm over prolonged delays in the payment of their outstanding pension arrears, expressing frustration and calling on the Federal Government to expedite action on their entitlements.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that earlier in February, President Bola Tinubu approved a N758 billion Treasury Bond to clear accumulated pension liabilities under the Contributory Pension Scheme. The approval was granted by the Federal Executive Council, and the National Assembly later gave its nod for implementation on July 22.
The bond is intended to offset decades-long arrears owed to retirees and adjust their monthly pensions to reflect prevailing economic conditions. But despite the approvals, many pensioners say the delay in actual disbursement is worsening their hardship.
Speaking with NAN, Hajiya Amina Lawal lamented the rising cost of living, noting that even active workers struggle to afford basic necessities let alone pensioners.
“We were happy after the announcement by the president that we are going to be paid, but we did not know we would have to wait this long for processing. Our hopes were raised and some have died while waiting for the money to be paid. We are begging for the immediate implementation, we are too old to be on the streets,” she said.
Another retiree, George Ose, described the situation as dire. He revealed that the financial strain had taken a toll on his health and family life.
“My family and I are hungry. I can’t pay my children’s school fees. My landlord is on my neck and to top it all, I can’t access the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) anymore. If you look into my eyes, you will know that I need urgent medical attention. We the pensioners in this country are suffering. After working hard, if I knew I would suffer like this, I would not have given them the services I gave them,” he said.
For Joy Adewale, who retired alongside her husband in 2016, life has been a constant struggle. She shared her ordeal, saying she attempted to open a soft drink shop after retirement, but her shop was later demolished.
“We have been struggling to feed with this stipend. I am suffering, my husband is suffering too. What is our offence? We served our nation for 35 years. Now this amount cannot even feed my family and I, to say the least, as well as our medical bills and other things. Some of us couldn’t cope with this hardship. Even my neighbour who retired two years ago died two months ago. People look down on us because we are retirees,” she said.
Adewale added that efforts to sustain her business through bank loans or credit from suppliers were unsuccessful.
“Even my bank refused to grant me loan to continue the business because l am a retiree. No friend again, only God is sustaining me and my family now. I am now appealing to this present government to help us pay all our rights now that we are alive. I pray that all our colleagues that have fallen, that God will accept their souls. For those of us still alive, I also pray God will help us to reap the fruit of our labour,” she said.
Although Nkiru Offor, who retired in 2019, said her entitlements were paid in 2021 and had been regular, she emphasized the need for an upward review to match current inflation. She also complained about lack of access to the NHIS.
Evans Ubah echoed similar sentiments, blaming the economic crisis on poor leadership.
“Today I can’t feed myself, see how my face is, it’s hunger. We don’t have anything to live on now. Every year they will tell us in the media that pension fund assets have increased, but why are pensioners not paid?” he asked.
Ubah said many retirees need their arrears to start small businesses and regain some dignity.
