Naked Protest: Pensioners Give FG Deadline Over Unpaid Arrears

The Coalition of Federal Pensioners of Nigeria has announced plans for a nationwide protest scheduled for November 24 if the government does not address outstanding pension increment arrears and palliative allowances.

The announcement was made by the coalition’s national chairman, Mukaila Ogunbote, during a press conference held in Lagos on Tuesday.

Ogunbote, who also leads the Nigeria Union of Pensioners for the NIPOST chapter, indicated that the protest is contingent upon the federal government’s failure to honor its commitment to pay the approved N32,000 pension increment arrears and the N25,000 palliative allowance, which have been pending since 2023.

Ogunbote noted that pensioners living abroad have expressed solidarity with their counterparts in Nigeria and will participate in the protest from their respective countries, emphasizing that the demonstration would extend beyond a national scale to a global level.

Ogunbote has called on President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to take action by urging the Minister of Finance and the Accountant-General of the Federation to release the necessary funds for pensions.

He emphasized that numerous pensioners have unfortunately lost their lives due to financial difficulties, which have hindered their access to proper nutrition and healthcare when they fall ill.

“We were told that our arrears would be paid within two weeks of the approval, yet nothing has been done.

“If by November 23, we do not receive payment, all pensioners nationwide will embark on a naked protest on November 24,” Mr Ogunbote said.

He lamented that while workers had received their own allowances, pensioners were left out.

“Workers received the N35,000 palliative in a month, but up till now, pensioners have not been paid the N25,000 approved for us. We are more vulnerable than anyone else.

“We are appealing to President Bola Ahmed to intervene in the matter,” he said.

Ogunbote appealed to the government to pay the owed money before December and criticised the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) for not supporting the pensioners more actively in their request for the payments.

He also appealed to the Minister of Finance and the Accountant General to release the owed funds urgently, as many pensioners were struggling to survive.

The president of the Civil Service Pensioners, Francis Oluwo, appealed to the federal government to act swiftly, stating that the naked protest was crucial to pressure the government into taking appropriate payment action.

Bridget Obieto, the assistant secretary of the Voice of Nigeria Pensioners Association, called on the NLC to use its influence to address the demands of pensioners.

Obieto urged the federal government to prioritise the needs of workers and pensioners over other expenditures.

Elijah Akindutire, chairman emeritus of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, NIPOST chapter, said pensioners were appealing to the federal government to pay the arrears so that they could eat well.

Akindutire called for a large turnout at the protest on November 24 to show the government the protesters’ determination.

Photo Credit: People’s Gazette