Pensioners who retired from the Federal Civil Service are upset because the government has not paid them the wage awards. They are considering protesting across the country.
The pensioners, who are part of the Federal Civil Service Pensioners affiliated with the National Union of Pensioners, are disappointed that the President Bola Tinubu-led administration has not paid the wage awards despite the challenges faced by Nigerians due to the removal of the fuel subsidy.
Tinubu, during his October 2023 Independence Day speech, said his administration would give N35,000 to active workers and N25,000 to pensioners as wage awards until new minimum wage negotiations are finished.
Although the government started paying active workers, the program was stopped and resumed in December 2023 after pressure from organized labor.
During a meeting with journalists in Abuja on Wednesday, the President of the Federal Civil Service Pensioners, Sunday Omezi, said pensioners are facing difficult times.
“We want to let the world know through this medium the pain and suffering we have endured over the years from the same government we served with dedication, only to be mistreated and neglected after giving our energy without any issues. We feel abandoned and left to suffer and die.”
Regarding the unpaid wage award, Omezi said, “It is sad and disappointing that the government has not paid the N25,000 wage award promised to pensioners. It's embarrassing for the promise to remain unfulfilled, and we demand immediate payment of the awards.”
