The Nigeria Union of Pensioners, NUP, has appealed to the Federal Government to pay a six months wage award of N25,000 monthly, owed to its members across the country.
The Head of Information of NUP, Bunmi Ogunkolade, made the appeal on Monday in Abuja.
Ogunkolade said that the Federal Government was yet to implement the N25,000 wage award that was announced for pensioners in 2023.
“As I am speaking with you now, not a single pensioner nationwide has received anything, while workers have enjoyed their N35,000 for six months.
“So, what did the pensioners do wrong?’’ he asked
Ogunkolade commended President Bola Tinubu for assenting to the new National Minimum Wage law, promptly and urged that the implementation process should include pensioners.
The NUP official said pensioners were feeling the impact of economic hardship in the country the most, resulting in the ill health of some of their aged members.
“It is pathetic, seeing our members down with health issues, such as diabetes, high blood pressure, prostrate among others, and the state government they served for decades are not concerned about their plight.
“Some state governors would even ask the pensioners if they do not have children that they should take care of them,’’ he said.
He said it is worrisome that some pensioners were still receiving pittance, as low as N2000 since they retired 15 years back.
Ogunkolade, therefore, called on the state governors to implement the directive of 33.4 percent increments of 2010, as well as the regular increment of 2015 and 2019 consequential adjustment increments.