Federal pensioners under the Contributory Pension Scheme have written to the Coordinating Minister of Finance and National Economy, Wale Edun, demanding the implementation of the earlier announced N32,000 increment in pension.
The pensioners, who had earlier staged a peaceful rally at the Ministry of Finance on November 12, 2024, expressed appreciation for the minister’s handling of their grievances but lamented that despite promises, the accrued rights account had remained uncredited.
The pensioners’ union leadership, in a letter dated November 25, 2024, called for the payment of the approved N32,000 monthly pension increase per retiree, arising from the current national minimum wage of N70,000 to the least public worker.
The letter also stated that all Contributory Pension Scheme retirees nationwide would occupy the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation in Abuja from December 16, 2024, until their demands are met.
The letter stated, “From 12 pm on December 16, 2024, all CPS retirees nationwide will make the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation at Abuja their homes until the government is ready to meet their demands.
“We call on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in the Contributory Pension Scheme and to take immediate steps to clear all government’s liabilities in this sector before December 16, 2024.
“If the Federal Government would not want the whole world to watch Nigerian retired senior citizens under the Contributory Pension Scheme to turn the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation at Abuja as their homes until the government is ready to meet their demands.”
The pensioners are also calling on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in the Contributory Pension Scheme and to take immediate steps to clear all government liabilities in this sector before December 16, 2024.
The Nigeria Union of Pensioners Contributory Pension Scheme Sector has also called for consequential adjustment in pension, arising from the implementation of the national minimum wage (Amendment) Act, 2024.
The pensioners’ demands come after the announcement of the N70,000 minimum wage for workers, which was followed by the announcement of the N32,000 increment for pensioners.
However, the pensioners claim that despite promises, the accrued rights account had remained uncredited, prompting their demands for immediate payment.
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