By Michael Oche
Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for taking significant measures to alleviate the economic challenges faced by pensioners, especially those under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS).
In a statement signed by its National President, Comrade Godwin Abumisi, the union lauded the president for his commitment to improving the welfare of pensioners across the country.
The union noted the recent approval of a 20% pension increase for DBS pensioners and the introduction of a minimum pension of ₦32,000 as key achievements of the administration.
According to the NUP, these initiatives reflect President Tinubu’s “love and commitment to ensuring pensioners in the country are supported and their rights protected and promoted.”
Nigerian Pilot reports that the 20% pension increase, backdated to January 2024, has been paid to many DBS pensioners, while the minimum pension of ₦32,000, approved in July 2024, has also reached several beneficiaries.
Comrade Abumisi stated, “This is the first of its kind that pensioners will receive any form of pension increase without protests in different forms. We hail you, Mr. President.”
The NUP also expressed gratitude to the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) and its new Executive Secretary, Tolulope Odunaiya, for ensuring the timely disbursement of the pension increments.
The union acknowledged Odunaiya’s dedication, saying, “We appreciate her promise to ensure that the 20% pension increase is paid before the end of December 2024 and her strict implementation of President Tinubu’s policy direction on pensioners’ welfare.”
However, the union raised concerns over discrepancies in the payment process. Despite progress, not all pensioners have received their entitlements. “As of today, the 20% pension increment arrears have not been fully paid to all DBS pensioners. Furthermore, 70% of pensioners are yet to receive the ₦32,000 minimum pension,” the statement revealed.
The NUP called on PTAD to address these discrepancies promptly, urging the agency to review its records and rectify any errors in the payment process. “We demand that PTAD pay serious attention to ensuring no DBS pensioner is omitted or deprived of their rights in the name of system failure or man-made error in the payment processes,” the union emphasized.
Despite these challenges, the union remained optimistic about the administration’s commitment to pensioners. They reiterated their gratitude to President Tinubu, describing the reforms as a significant step forward. “We are grateful for the 20% pension increase and the ₦32,000 pension award that is today a minimum pension,” the statement added.
