Ebony state govt commences clearance of N10bn gratuity backlog owed LG retirees

Ebonyi state government commences clearing the backlog of gratuity estimated at N10 billion it owes over 4,000 retired Local Government employees. Flagging off the exercise in Abakiliki on Monday, the state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Matters, Mr Uchenna Igwe, said the move would ameliorate the suffering of the retirees. Igwe described the gesture as a defining moment of justice and compassion, as contained in Gov. Francis Nwifuru’s people’s charter of needs mantra. “These entitlements were not paid since the state’s creation and the commencement of its payment has restored hope and dignity for selfless service. “The governor is a promise keeper who only thinks of ways to enhance the people’s wellbeing,” he said. The commissioner urged the beneficiaries to use the funds judiciously especially in supporting their families and communities. The commissioner for Information and State Orientation, Mr Ikeuwa Omebeh, recalled that the governor inaugurated a six-member verification committee for the exercise on Aug.1, 2025. The committee chaired by the wife of the state’s former deputy governor, Mrs Catherine Ogbu, was tasked with authenticating claims and determining eligibility for retirees. “This covers the period of 1996 to 2025 as the exercise has been successfully completed and payments will be carried out on LGA basis. “All verified retirees will be paid through their bank accounts as the gesture will beyond welfare, inject liquidity into rural economies and stimulate small businesses,” he said. The Executive Secretary of the State Local Government Pension Board, Mr. Emeka Nwonu,.assured that all verified persons would receive their entitlements. “The Board collaborated with all relevant bodies concerned with the process, in realising set goals,” he said. The Chairperson of the verification exercise, Mrs. Catherine Ogbu, lauded the governor for his vision of prioritising the welfare of retirees. “This is a dream delayed, but presently a reality, and promise fulfilled” she said. The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Ebonyi Council, Mr Donatus Okemini, urged Ebonyi people to pray and support the Nwifuru-led administration as it had the people’s interest at heart. Mrs Martha Elom, one of the retirees, thanked the governor for the gesture noting that it had ‘added a new lease of life” to her. 

Unpaid benefits: Pensioners threaten nationwide ‘naked protest’

The Coalition of Federal Pensioners of Nigeria has threatened a nationwide naked protest on Oct. 6 if government fails to implement pension increments and palliatives. The coalition’s National Chairman, Mr Mukaila Ogunbote, announced this during a news conference on Tuesday in Lagos. Ogunbote, who also chairs the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, NIPOST Chapter, said pensioners had given government until September to settle arrears, increments and palliatives. He warned that failure to act would leave the pensioners with no choice but to embark on a nationwide naked protest on Oct. 6. According to him, the protest would symbolically expose government failures and highlight pensioners’ grievances before the public. Ogunbote recalled that in October 2023, President Bola Tinubu approved N35,000 for workers and N25,000 for pensioners as palliatives. He said workers received their payment within one month of approval, yet pensioners were still waiting for theirs nearly a year later. Ogunbote noted that workers had since demanded and received additional palliatives for ten months, while pensioners’ requests for six months’ worth remained unmet. He said President Tinubu had also directed an increase of N13,000 in pensions, but no implementation had followed from the Ministry of Finance or the Accountant-General. “When we enquired, we were told our N32,000 increment was omitted from both the 2024 and 2025 budgets. This is injustice,” Ogunbote declared. Mr Fashola Oluwo, a retiree from the Federal Ministry of Information, urged questioning of officials who failed to implement the President’s directive. Oluwo lamented that pensioners still struggled in spite of the increment being inadequate for the rising cost of living in Nigeria. He said many retirees could not afford essential medication, while some had died waiting for their pension increases. Another pensioner, Mrs Dupe Ogunniyi of FRCN, appealed to the First Lady to intervene with the President on behalf of retirees. She said many pensioners were supporting unemployed graduate children and relied solely on their pensions for survival. Mr Adebola Akinduture, former Chairman of the Lagos NUP, stressed that hunger was the central grievance of the retirees. “We are hungry. Food is medicine, yet without it, medicine is meaningless. Pensioners are starving,” Akinduture said. He vowed that pensioners would take to the streets naked on Oct. 6 if government ignored their demands. 

Pensioners Block Finance Ministry Over Delayed Payments  

A scene described as embarrassing and unbecoming of a government unraveled today in Abuja as pensioners barricaded streets, especially the entrance of the Federal Ministry of Finance, to express their frustration over delayed pension payments.   The protest, spearheaded by the National Union of Contributory Pensioners, focused on unpaid accrued rights—benefits earned under the old pension scheme before the 2004 transition to the Contributory Pension Scheme.   These entitlements are meant to be transferred to Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) to allow retirees access upon retirement.  However, some pensioners who retired as far back as 2003 claim they have yet to receive their due, leaving them unable to secure funds through the Pension Administration System.   The pensioners are calling on the federal government to resolve the backlog swiftly.