A desperate plea for intervention has been issued by Lagos State retirees and members of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu to urgently address their long-standing grievances.
At a press conference held on Wednesday, pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS) voiced their frustration over the non-implementation of crucial pension increases and the non-payment of significant arrears.
The Union’s State Executive Council, following a general meeting of pensioners, highlighted three key areas of contention. Firstly, they are demanding the implementation of a ₦32,000 pension increase for all pensioners, stemming from the National Minimum Wage Act of 2024, which was expected to be effective from July 2024.
Secondly, the NUP expressed deep dissatisfaction with the ongoing non-payment of accrued pension arrears amounting to 57 months, resulting from the 2019 Consequential Adjustment implementation, which was supposed to be effective from April 2019.
Finally, the pensioners are also awaiting the payment of arrears from a 20-person five-year pension increase which was due to take effect in January 2024.
Adding to their concerns, the NUP is appealing to the state government to integrate all pensioners in state parastatals onto the ORACLE payment system, aligning with Section 173 (3) of the 1999 Constitution, which mandates pension increases alongside wage increases or every five years, whichever comes first.
The Union has specifically pointed fingers at the Lagos State Head of Service, Mr. Bode Agoro, his Permanent Secretary Mrs. Sunkanmi Oyegbola, and the Director-General of LASPEC, Mr. Babalela Obilana, accusing them of being unwilling to engage with the Union and of allegedly shielding the Governor from the pensioners’ concerns despite numerous requests for meetings.
Recalling promises made during a protest in November 2023, the pensioners emphasized that these increases are their primary source of income, especially amidst the current economic hardship. They stressed that these payments are meant to cover various essential allowances.
During the press briefing, the state chairman, Rev.Oluremi Johnson, appealed to Sanwo-Olu to approve their entitlements and urged state officials to remember the state’s motto, warning, “We are Senior Citizens and we don’t want to become Senior Miscreants.”
The union issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Lagos State Government to address the issues raised, signaling a potential escalation if their demands are not met.
Credit: The Guardian