Nigerian pensioners under the Federal Government’s pension scheme have issued a 21-day ultimatum to the authorities to pay their outstanding N150,000 palliative allowance, warning that they will embark on a mass protest if their demand is not met by September 10, 2026.
The demand was made by the Coalition of Federal Pensioners of Nigeria in a letter dated August 21 and addressed to the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction. The coalition also copied relevant government agencies responsible for pensions and public finances.
The pensioners said the N150,000 represents six months of the N25,000 monthly palliative approved by the Federal Government in 2023 to cushion the impact of economic hardship following the removal of the petrol subsidy.
According to the retirees, while workers received the approved palliative and subsequent support, pensioners have yet to receive the equivalent six-month payment they are demanding.
They argued that the outstanding payment has become increasingly important because of rising living costs and the impact of economic policies on elderly citizens who depend largely on their pensions for survival.
The coalition appealed to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction to facilitate the release of the funds and work with the Pension Transitional Arrangements Directorate, which maintains records of pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme.
The pensioners also linked the delay to the earlier controversy surrounding the ministry and the suspension of former Humanitarian Affairs Minister Betta Edu, saying the outstanding payment should not continue to be held up because of previous administrative issues.
They stressed that they had exhausted their patience and warned that failure to pay the allowance by September 10 would lead to a peaceful but loud protest.
The coalition said it was appealing to the government to resolve the matter before the deadline, emphasising the financial difficulties facing elderly Nigerians.
The dispute over the palliative has continued for several years. The Federal Government initially approved the N25,000 monthly support for vulnerable pensioners for three months in 2023, while pensioners subsequently demanded that the payment be extended to six months.
The latest ultimatum puts renewed pressure on the government to address the outstanding allowance as pensioners await a response from the relevant authorities.
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