Retirees give FG ultimatum, plan naked protest October 6

The Coalition of Federal Pensioners of Nigeria has threatened to stage a nationwide naked protest on October 6 if the Federal Government fails to implement approved pension increments and palliatives.

The coalition’s National Chairman, Mr. Mukaila Ogunbote, issued the warning during a press conference on Tuesday in Lagos. Ogunbote, who also chairs the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NIPOST Chapter), said pensioners had set a September deadline for the settlement of arrears, increments, and palliatives.

He cautioned that failure to meet the deadline would leave pensioners with no alternative but to demonstrate their grievances through a symbolic nationwide naked protest. According to him, the action is intended to publicly expose government neglect and highlight the suffering of retirees.

Ogunbote recalled that in October 2023, President Bola Tinubu approved palliatives of N35,000 for workers and N25,000 for pensioners. While workers received their payments within a month, pensioners are still waiting almost a year later. He further noted that workers had since benefitted from additional ten months of palliatives, while pensioners’ requests for six months’ worth remain unfulfilled.

He also revealed that although President Tinubu directed a N13,000 pension increase, the directive has yet to be implemented by the Ministry of Finance or the Office of 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,” he said.

Supporting the call, Mr. Fashola Oluwo, a retiree from the Federal Ministry of Information, urged accountability from officials who failed to act on the President’s directive. He lamented that many retirees struggle to survive the rising cost of living, with some unable to afford essential medication and others dying while waiting for their entitlements.

Mrs. Dupe Ogunniyi, a retiree from the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN), appealed to the First Lady to intervene with the President on behalf of pensioners. She noted that many retirees continue to support unemployed graduate children and depend solely on their pensions.

Similarly, Mr. Adebola Akinduture, former Chairman of the Lagos NUP, stressed that hunger remains the core grievance of pensioners. “We are hungry. Food is medicine, yet without it, medicine is meaningless. Pensioners are starving,” he said.

The coalition reiterated its warning that unless urgent action is taken, retirees will embark on a nationwide naked protest on October 6 to press home their demands.

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