By Daniel Peters in Abuja.
A large group of pensive-looking retired civil servants, took to the streets of Abuja on Wednesday, protesting the government’s prolonged failure to pay their pensions and gratuities, some of which they said have been outstanding for over a year.
The demonstrators, representing various federal ministries and agencies, expressed their frustration over the delayed payments, which have caused significant hardship for many retirees.
Comrade Anne Amaturu, a retired official from the Federal Ministry of Power since 2023, voiced the growing despair among the group. “It has been one year, and we’ve yet to receive a single kobo.
“Some have been waiting two or three years. While those still in service enjoy pay raises, we, who served this country for decades, are being forgotten,”she said.
Amaturu noted the dire consequences of these delays, noting that many retirees, elderly and in poor health, are struggling to survive.
“Some have already passed away, and others are in hospitals, unable to afford proper care. We demand our full entitlements without further delay,” she added.
According to her, the economic downturn in Nigeria, marked by inflation and skyrocketing living costs, has only worsened the plight of the retirees.
Mrs. Uba Christiana, the National Women Abuja Gender Officer, who spoke on behalf of the female retirees laments,“We have children who have finished their studies but are still unemployed. We are left to support them while also struggling ourselves due to the lack of pension payments.”
Contributoring, Mr. Ekpeyong Francis, a former Chief Accountant from the Federal Ministry of Information who retired in November 2023, expressed his disbelief over the government’s silence. “We’ve been retired for 20 months, and not a dime has been paid. After serving for 35 years, we now face the indignity of not being able to support our families.”
The protesters also criticized the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), which was introduced in 2004 with the promise of timely pension payments. “We were told we’d receive our cheques the day we retired, but many of us are now waiting over a year without a single payment,” he recalled.
The retirees, therefore ,called on the federal government, particularly the Accountant-General, to release their funds immediately, stressing that the severe hardships they face is becoming understandable.
As they continue their protest under the scorching sun, the group has issued an ultimatum to the federal government to pay their outstanding entitlements by the end of the month, or they will intensify their efforts to secure what is rightfully theirs.
Edited by Dada Ahmed.
