The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) has appealed to the federal government to pay a six-month wage award of N25,000 monthly owed to its members nationwide.
Bunmi Ogunkolade, NUP’s spokesperson, in an interview with journalists on Monday in Abuja, said the federal government was yet to implement the N25,000 wage award announced for pensioners in 2023.
“As I am speaking with you now, not a single pensioner nationwide has received anything, while workers have enjoyed their N35,000 for six months. So, what did the pensioners do wrong?’’ he asked.
Mr Ogunkolade commended President Bola Tinubu for promptly assenting the new national minimum wage law and urged that the implementation process include pensioners.
The NUP official said pensioners were feeling the impact of economic hardship in the country the more, resulting in the ill health of some aged members.
“It is pathetic, seeing our members down with health issues, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, prostrate among others, and the state government they served for decades are not concerned about their plight.
“Some state governors would even ask the pensioners if they do not have children that should take care of them.
“But we all know that these are people who have used their youthful energy to serve the nation.
“If they know that their post-retirement life is not guaranteed, they may want to engage in unwholesome activities while in service to guarantee their future,’’ he said.
Mr Ogunkolade said it is worrisome that some pensioners are still receiving pittance, as low as N2,000 since they retired 15 years back.
He called on the state governors to implement the directive of 33.4 per cent increments of 2010 and the regular increment of 2015 and 2019 consequential adjustment increments.
(NAN)