The Coalition of Federal Pensioners of Nigeria has warned that its members will take to the streets unclothed on October 6 if the government fails to pay their arrears, increments, and promised palliatives.
The group’s National Chairman, Mukaila Ogunbote, gave the warning at a press conference in Lagos on Tuesday.
Ogunbote, who also leads the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NIPOST chapter), said pensioners had given the government until the end of September to meet their demands.
“If the government does not act, we will have no choice but to embark on a nationwide naked protest on October 6,” he said.
He explained that the action would serve as a symbolic protest against government neglect.
Ogunbote recalled that in October 2023, President Bola Tinubu approved N35,000 for workers and N25,000 for pensioners as palliatives. According to him, workers got their payment within a month, but pensioners are yet to receive theirs almost a year later.
“Workers have even received additional palliatives for ten months, but our request for six months has been ignored. President Tinubu also directed an increase of N13,000 in pensions, yet the Ministry of Finance and the Accountant-General have failed to implement it. We were later told our N32,000 increment was omitted from both the 2024 and 2025 budgets. This is injustice,” he declared.
Another retiree, Fashola Oluwo, from the Federal Ministry of Information, said it was time to question officials blocking the President’s directive.
“Even with the promised increment, the money cannot meet today’s cost of living, and many of us cannot afford basic medication. Some have even died waiting for their benefits,” Oluwo lamented.
Mrs Dupe Ogunniyi, a retired staff of FRCN, appealed to the First Lady to intervene on behalf of pensioners, stressing that many still depend solely on their pensions while supporting unemployed children.
Also speaking, former Lagos NUP chairman, Adebola Akinduture, said hunger was the biggest challenge facing retirees.
“We are hungry. Food is medicine, yet without food, medicine is meaningless. Pensioners are starving,” he said, vowing that the October 6 naked protest would go ahead if the government ignores them.
