Pensioners Threaten Nationwide Protest Over Unconstitutional Treatment By Buhari

The Nigerian pensioners have threatened to embark on a nationwide protest giving the Federal Government a 21-day ultimatum.

The retirees said this on Friday at a briefing in Abuja, the Nigeria capital. They called on the Federal Government to implement the Consequential adjustment of pensions, as a result of the implementation of the National Minimum wage for Nigerian workers or they will occupy the streets in protest.

The National President of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Abel Afolayan said that it is disheartening that after two years that the national minimum wage was implemented, the Federal Government is yet to improve their demands as stipulated in constitution.
The union quoted the 1999 constitution with respect to sections 173 (3) and 210 (3) as it affects the 5-year review of pension. Afolayan said they should be reviewed or together with the salary reviews of workers.

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The pensioners argued that two years after the adjustment of salaries and the implementation of the N30,000 national minimum wage was approved, they are still waiting for the approval of their consequential adjustment of monthly pensions as requested in the stipulated constitutional section above, after several efforts by the national leadership of the union.

Recalled that the retired soldiers in January protested at the Federal Ministry of Finance, Abuja, over the non-payment of their arrears.

The ex-servicemen appealed to the Federal Government to approve the payment of minimum wage arrears accruing to them between 2019 till date.

The retired generals also demanded a stop on all deductions on the pension of all retired medical officers and the inclusion of officers who fought during the civil war on the military pension scheme.