Pensioners in the Federal Capital Territory have raised the alarm over prolonged delays in the disbursement of N758 billion in pension arrears, which was approved by the Federal Government to offset liabilities under the Contributory Pension Scheme.
In February, President Bola Tinubu approved the issuance of a Treasury bond to clear the outstanding payments.
The National Assembly subsequently gave legislative backing for implementation on July 22. However, several weeks after, affected retirees say they are yet to receive any payment.
The retirees, many of whom served for over three decades in various capacities, lamented their worsening living conditions, with some alleging that several of their colleagues have died while waiting for the disbursement.
“We were filled with hope after the President announced the approval,” said Hajiya Amina Lawal, a retired civil servant. “But nothing has changed. Our people are dying of hunger and neglect. We are too old to be begging on the streets.”
Lawal described the economic hardship retirees face, noting that even some working-class Nigerians cannot afford three meals a day. “Imagine what life is like for us who depend solely on these unpaid pensions,” she added.
Mr. George Ose, another pensioner, painted a grim picture of his family’s situation. “My children are out of school. I can’t pay rent, and I’ve lost access to healthcare through the National Health Insurance Scheme. If I knew I’d suffer like this, I wouldn’t have given my best years in service,” he said.
For Mrs. Joy Adewale, who retired alongside her husband in 2016, life has been a daily struggle. She recounted how her small shop, which she set up after retirement to support her family, was demolished without compensation.
“Now we live on stipends that can’t even buy a bag of rice,” she said. “Our health is deteriorating, and people treat us like we are burdens. A friend I retired with died just two months ago. He gave up waiting.”
Adewale said her efforts to get business support from suppliers and loans from banks failed because she was tagged a “high-risk” retiree. “Even friends turned away. Now it’s just God sustaining us. This government should help us before we all die,” she pleaded.
Mrs. Nkiru Offor, who retired in 2019, confirmed that while her pension had started coming in 2021, the amount remains insufficient to meet basic needs. “Medical bills alone take everything. Registering for NHIS privately is over ₦50,000, and even that has not yielded any benefit,” she explained.
Mr. Evans Ubah also appealed to the government, revealing his dire condition. “Look at me—this is what hunger looks like. We hear of billions in pension fund assets every year, but what good is it if we pensioners are left to rot?”
He added, “The constitution provides that pensions should be reviewed every five years along with salaries, but that hasn’t happened. We feel abandoned.”
The pensioners collectively urged the Federal Government to expedite the implementation of the approved Treasury bond so they can access their long-overdue entitlements and survive the current economic hardship.
“We’re not asking for favors—we’re only demanding the reward for the services we rendered to this country,” Lawal concluded.
