Pensioners to President: compel governors to clear arrears
The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to prevail on governors to settle outstanding pension increase arrears owed to retirees. The union’s appeal was contained
- From Frank Ikpefan, Abuja
The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) has urged President Bola Ahmed Tinubu to prevail on governors to settle outstanding pension increase arrears owed to retirees.
The union’s appeal was contained in a statement yesterday in Abuja by its National President, Godwin Abumisi.
In the statement, the union congratulated the President on his 74th birthday and lauded the Federal Government’s efforts at improving pensioners’ welfare, saying the intervention of the President had become necessary as many retirees at the state level were yet to benefit from ongoing reforms.
The union noted that pensioners nationwide were celebrating the President in recognition of his administration’s policies aimed at restoring the dignity and welfare of retirees.
It cited the approval of a N32,000 monthly pension increase as one of the administration’s key achievements, describing it as “a bold and compassionate decision that has brought much-needed relief to retirees grappling with rising living costs”.
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The NUP noted that the Federal Government’s approval of about N700 billion to offset liabilities under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), as well as N57 billion for pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS), has helped to address longstanding arrears.
“This landmark intervention is addressing the backlog of accrued rights owed to CPS retirees, many of whom had endured years of uncertainty and hardship after meritorious service to the nation,” it stated.
The union also acknowledged the government’s efforts to clear arrears owed to pensioners in government parastatals and lauded the sustained prompt payment of monthly pensions.
“We further commend the sustained prompt payment of monthly pensions, as well as your timely intervention in resolving delays, which demonstrated responsive and people-centered leadership,” the statement added.
The NUP described the approval for the payment of gratuities to retired workers as a significant step toward enhancing pensioners’ welfare.
Despite these strides, the union expressed concern that many pensioners at the subnational level were yet to benefit from similar measures, urging presidential intervention.
The NUP also called for the speedy implementation of the proposed health insurance scheme for pensioners, describing it as critical to their well-being.
The union said: “We respectfully urge Your Excellency to use your good offices to prevail on state governors to fully implement all approved pension increases for state pensioners, so that retirees at the subnational level can equally benefit from these reforms.
“We also reiterate that the proposed Health Insurance Scheme for Pensioners remains a critical expectation. We are hopeful that its approval and the release of funds for implementation will be expedited in no distant time.”
The union wished the President good health, strength and wisdom to sustain policies that would promote economic growth, national development and security of lives and property across the country.
