Unpaid pensions: Retirees set to occupy finance ministry

Federal pensioners under the Contributory Pension Scheme have written to the coordinating Minister of Finance and National Economy, Wale Edun, on the need for the government to release the accrued gratuities owed pensioners from March 2023 to November 2024.

The pensioners, who had earlier staged a peaceful rally at the Ministry of Finance on November 12, 2024, expressed appreciation for the minister’s “mature and civilised“ handling of their grievances. However, they lamented that despite promises, their pensions remained unpaid.

The pensioners are demanding the immediate release of the outstanding 21 months of accrued rights to retired public workers from March 2023 to November 2024.

They are also seeking payment of unpaid pension increments, including a 15 per cent increase in 2007, a 33 per cent increase in 2010, and a 20 – 28 per cent increase in 2024.

They called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in the CPS sector and take immediate steps to clear all government liabilities before December 16, 2024.

The pensioners’ union leadership stated that they had the mandate of their members nationwide to take this action, and they would not back down until their demands were met.

“From 12 pm on the 16th of December, 2024 all CPS retirees nationwide will make the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation at Abuja their homes until the government is ready to meet their demands.

“We call on the Federal Government of Nigeria to declare a state of emergency in the Contributory Pension Scheme and to take immediate steps to clear all government’s liabilities in this sector before 16th December, 2024, if the Federal Government would not want the whole world to watch Nigerian retired senior citizens under the Contributory Pension Scheme to turn the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation at Abuja as their homes until the government is ready to meet their demands.

“Our  main demands include: immediate release of all the outstanding 21 months of accrued rights to retired public workers from March 2023 to November 2024;  payments of all the unpaid pension increments; 15 per cent pension increase in 2007; 33 per cent pension increase in 2010; Consequential pension adjustment in 2019 following the increase in the national minimum wage and 20 per cent to 28 per cent pension increase in 2024.”

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