The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) Federal Branch Lagos, Mr Joseph Dele, has urged the Federal Government to pay the arrears of the 33 per cent increment in pension owed the union members in order to enhance their socio-economic wellbeing.
Dele, who made the call today in Lagos, confirmed that the 12 months arrears of the 33 per cent increment on pension increment affected civil service, police and parastatals pensioners.
While commending President Muhammadu Buhari for his determination to settle the backlog and other entitlements owed pensioners, the pensioner pointed out helping the pensioners through the payment of their outstanding arrears could make the members support his future political ambitions.
He lamented that the arrears were being paid in piecemeal through the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) to the pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS).
He explained: “We still have 12 months outstanding and some parastatals still have as high as 36 months backlogs outstanding. Moreover, it was 54.3 per cent increment that they promised us but was later slashed to 33 per cent which we accepted without grudge.
“The Federal Government promised to review the minimum wage over five years. We plead that they should consider pensioners also by increasing the percentage of their monthly allowance.
“Our monthly pension is too small and it can’t feed us,’’ Dele added.
The pensioners group’s leader also urged the Federal Government not to exclude pensioners from the ongoing minimum wage review.
