• Retirees in Ekiti, Kebbi, Bayelsa, Kaduna others in Christmas mood
• Pensioners in Anambra, Nasarawa, Kwara, Ebonyi, Rivers others groan
By Desmond Mgboh, Seye Ojo
Tony John, Emmanuel Adeyemi, Okey Sampson, Priscilla Ediare, Emmanuel Uzor, Olanrewaju Lawal, Femi Folaranmi, Abel Leonard, Uchenna Inya, Noah Ebije, Jude Chinedu, Scholastica Hir, George Onyejiuwa, Stanley Uzoaru, Layi Olanrewaju, Laide Raheem, John Adams, Billy Graham, Abel Leonard and Timothy Olanrewaju
The story of retired civil servants in the country is replete with lamentations and long tales of agony. Very often they illustrate abject poverty into which they sink, soon after retirement from the civil service. Their terminal benefits, in most cases, don’t come at the right time. What they collect on a monthly basis as retirees most times are not paid for years.
Instances abound where some died while struggling to be part of verification exercises to authenticate their eligibility for pension and gratuity. When they are paid, the pensions are hardly enough for their upkeep. However, there are states where governors have shown good examples by ensuring that the senior citizens get what is due to them.
As the festive season approaches, there are different stories coming from different states across the country. While some are smiling others are agonising over non-payment of their entitlements for which reason, they may not have a happy festive season.
Ekiti pensioners hopeful
The caretaker chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Ekiti State branch, Popoola Adetola Temitope, has assured that pensioners in the state will have their pensions paid any time soon.
“You know there are governors that will not even pay this December, but Governor Biodun Oyebanji will pay, and that is why I said any moment from now they will start receiving alerts.”
He also declared that payment of gratuity is not a problem in the state.
“There is a backlog of over N19 billion which the governor is gradually paying. He released one billion naira recently.”
A retired Secondary School Principal in the state, Abe Adebayo, said, “To God be the glory, the incumbent governor has been very fair to pensioners in Ekiti State. He pays our monthly pensions without delay. He is also paying gratuities that have been left unpaid for years. He is paying the backlog of gratuities from 2011 and has paid up to 2015. Though, it has not reached my turn because I retired in 2020, because of the way he is paying I know that very soon my own gratuity will come.”
Speaking on behalf of the state government, the Special Adviser on Media to the Governor, Yinka Oyebode, said, “The governor paid N3.5 billion in October and paid another One billion in November. This year alone Mr. Governor has paid about N5.6 billion apart from the regular ones. On a monthly basis, he ensures that pension is paid the same day salaries are paid.
“The wage award of N15,000 given to civil servants, and N10,000 to pensioners is still ongoing. It was supposed to run for six months but the governor said it should still continue.”
Kebbi not owing pensioners
The Kebbi State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners says the state government does not owe pensioners in the state.
Assistant Secretary of the union in the state, Alhaji Garba Dan-Ashibi told Saturday Sun that the governor had cleared all entitlements except the recent directive by the Federal Government to state governments to pay additional 23 per cent to pensioners.
The governor, Dr. Nasir Idris also confirmed this while speaking with national leaders of the Nigeria Labour Congress, led by Comrade Joe Ajearo.
“Mr. President, my administration, like I always say, does not owe salaries. I don’t owe pensions; I don’t owe gratuities; and death benefits.
“To crown it all, leave grants for 2023 and 2024 have been paid. You have witnessed the signing of the new minimum wage into law and I have directed the Commissioner for Finance, Accountant General of the state, Commissioner for Local Government that Kebbi State workers should start enjoying the new minimum wage from October,” he said.
Mixed feelings for Bayelsa pensioners
Soon after he assumed office as governor in Bayelsa State, Senator Douye Diri released N250 million to offset gratuities of retired workers that were pending before he became governor.
The state government has been setting aside N200 million monthly for gratuities and pensions. The amount was increased to N400 million in May 2022 to meet the growing number of pensioners in the state.
At present, there is a backlog of gratuities and arrears of pensions to be paid. To address this ugly situation, Diri recently increased the monthly pension payment by N10,000 across board and also approved the release of N7 billion for payment of gratuities.
As the Yuletide season approaches, there are fears that some categories of workers may not be paid their pensions.
Mr. David Kurogbofa, a retired principal said there are mixed feelings about payment of pensions in the state as there are people who are badly affected.
“The payment of pension has been regular for me. I have been paid up to date and I have been told that the increment announced by the state government recently would be reflected in my December payment. However, there are some categories of workers that are badly affected. Some are yet to receive their gratuities and some have not been paid pension for six months. What the problem is I cannot say. “In fairness to the Douye Diri-led administration, he has tried since he became governor to address the issue of pension and gratuity.”
Kaduna assembly passes law for retirees to access 25% of benefits
Pensioners in Kaduna State were excited when the Kaduna State House of Assembly passed a bill into law that allows retirees in the state to access 25 per cent of their retirement benefits, even if the state government has not fully made its contribution.
Public Relations Officer of the National Union of Pensioners, Kaduna State chapter, Idris Danasabe said the passage of the law was a relief as after many years of service the majority of retirees faced hardship upon retirement.
The Kaduna State government has through the Executive Secretary of Kaduna Pension Bureau, Prof. Salamatu Isah said it had expended N19.9 billion on pension, gratuity, and death benefits of its civil servants within the 365 days of Governor Uba Sani’s administration in the state.
Better days for Kogi pensioners
Pensioners in Kogi State went through untold hardships resulting in deaths and permanent physical disabilities especially under the last administration. However, with the coming on board of Governor Usman Ododo, things have begun to gradually change for the better.
Retirees now receive 100 per cent of their monthly pension instead of the paltry 20-30 percent that the previous administration paid.
Investigations revealed that although pensioners in the state’s civil service have not been having issues with their monthly pension, that is not the case for pensioners at the local government councils and primary schools teachers, some of whom have lost count of how many months they were owed by the previous administrations.
Danlami Yahusa who retired as a primary school teacher in Lokoja Local Government Area, praised Governor Usman Ododo for paying their monthly pension in full and on time saying this never happened under the past administration.
“Honestly speaking, Ododo has put smiles on our faces especially retired primary school teachers and local government staff in the state who now receive our monthly pension on or before 25th of every month and sometimes before the salaries of workers are paid.”
Benue pensioners hopeful of merry Christmas
Pensioners in Benue State are excited about the response of the state government towards their welfare, saying under Governor Hyacinth Alia, their situation is better than it was under past administrations.
Chairman of the National Union of Pensioners, Benue State chapter, Mr. Michael Vember, said the government pays between 22nd and 25th of every month and there are two categories of pensioners; the ones in the state and the ones in the local governments.
He said while the state pensioners have been paid for the month of November and one month arrears of pension, some of their counterparts at the local government level are just receiving their November pay in the second week of December, but not the arrears yet.
“So we are in a fix. If November is cleared, we would be hopeful that in December too, we will get one month pay and one month arrears. So we plead that the LG pension for November should be cleared so we would know our fate for December.”
Vember, who commended Governor Alia for not owing them any pension since he assumed office, lamented that, “with the past regime, pension arrears at the LG were up to 96 months while pensioners in the state were owed 42 months. Since he came in, he has been paying. He will pay one month and add one month’s arrears.”
Imo pensioners receive gratuities in batches, hail gov
Pensioners in Imo State have heaved a sigh of relief ahead of the Christmas holidays as Governor Hope Uzodimma has paid the backlog of 20 years of gratuities to them.
It was gathered that those who have been paid so far are those who have been captured after verifications as authentic retirees. It was also learnt that the state government had earlier cleared pension arrears of retirees in the state.
Of the 10, 956 retirees at the local government and state levels, only 2,962 of retirees from the local governments were paid.
Chairman of the state chapter of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Chief J.B Ugochukwu said that not everyone has been paid yet but that the majority of his members have received.
Similarly, a pensioner, Mrs. Mary Nkemjika, said she could not believe it when she was paid her gratuities after 15 years of waiting.
“I retired in 2009. Since then, no government has paid me one kobo in the name of gratuities. Even the monthly pension was not coming irregularly.”
Also, Mazi Ogbonnaya Okoro from Arondizuogu disclosed that he was speechless when his gratuities came.
In Ogun, retirees getting fair treatment
In Ogun State, pensioners have been getting fair treatment from Governor Dapo Abiodun’s administration.
Spokesperson of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Ogun State Council, Comrade Olusegun Obadimu, said no pensioner is owed a kobo in the state.
He disclosed that recently a jack up of N20,000 across board was paid by the state government to pensioners in the state.
Obadimu said the council was agitating for a consequential increase in pension for those who retired from 2019 downwards, but the N20,000 paid by the government assisted the recipients to an extent.
“Relatively, it has been so good for pensioners under Governor Abiodun.”
With regards to gratuity, Obadimu informed Saturday Sun that a sum of N11.9billion was released by the state government to offset some outstanding gratuities, in the outgoing year.
“Gratuity paid covered those who retired up till December 2016. For the local government retirees, they got their gratitude up till December 2015, while those retired from primary schools got till December 2014. We thank the governor for this, but there is still a long way to go.
Hope for Abia pensioners at Xmas
Prior to the emergence of Dr. Alex Otti as the governor of Abia State, pensioners were owed in some cases, up to 30 months arrears of pension, spanning from 2014. No thought was given to payment of their gratuities. However, the Otti administration and the leadership of Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP), Abia State branch, reached an agreement on the mode of defraying the arrears of pensions and gratuity due to retired workers in the state.
The Abia State government around March this year commenced the payment of the pension and before long, it came out with a statement that it had defrayed the outstanding pension with some pensioners getting over N8m, while the state said it spent about N9billion in achieving this feat.
In addition, Governor Otti also directed that henceforth, Abia pensioners would be paid pension on the 28th day of every month same day workers in active service receive their salaries.
Despite that, pensioners in the state are still disputing the government’s claim of settling their outstanding pensions. The unfolding drama has made Governor Otti to frown at the attitude of Abia pensioners who he said after receiving their many years of pension arrears in line with the agreement entered with government, turned around to accuse the government of deceiving them.
Sigh of relief for pensioners in Niger
After years of misery and frustration, pensioners in Niger State can now heave a sigh of relief as Governor Umaru Mohammed Bago began the payment of their pensions and gratuity.
The current administration inherited N10.5billion as outstanding pension and gratuity of retirees. However, this amount, according to the Commissioner for Information and Strategy, Hon. Binta Mamman, has increased to N28billion since the governor assumed office.
The state government releases N800million every month towards off-setting the accumulated pension. Under this arrangement, the state government has kept its obligation since July this year and so far N4billion has been expended.
This development has restored the hope of the over 26,000 pensioners in the state, and some of the pensioners described the government gesture as a welcome development.
No anxiety for pensioners in Kano
There is no anxiety in Kano State as far as state pensioners are concerned. This is because the welfare of pensioners in the state has been relatively attended to by the government.
A few months ago, the state governor approved N6 billion to settle a backlog of death benefits and gratuities for pensioners and deceased retirees. He also announced a similar release of N5 billion for a similar purpose recently.
Ahmed Ibrahim, a pensioner who worked with a media house in the state, told Saturday Sun that the pension regime implemented by the current administration is friendly and robust, adding that the state has the record of being one of the best pension managers in the country.
“Apart from the payment of gratuities which are expectedly done at the end of service, the payment of pension to retirees commences almost immediately, “ he stated.
Adamawa pensioners optimistic
As the harmattan winds swept through the streets of Yola, the capital city of Adamawa State, pensioners like 62-year-old Mr. Ayuba were busy making preparations for the upcoming Christmas and New Year celebrations.
Mr. Ayuba, a retired staff of the Ministry of Agriculture, spent most of his life serving the state, but since his retirement two years ago, he has been struggling to make ends meet. Despite the challenges, he remains optimistic, and the festive season always brought a glimmer of hope for him and his family.
“I’m so excited for Christmas and New Year,” Ayuba exclaimed. It’s a time to forget our troubles and come together with family and friends.”
However, for many pensioners like Mr. Ayuba, the festive season is also a time of worry. With outstanding pensions and gratuities owed to them by the state government, many were unsure how they would afford the basic necessities, let alone celebrate the holidays.
“We’ve been owed pensions for months, but it is this present administration of Governor Umaru Fintiri has given us hope to pensioners here in Adamawa state.”
Another retiree, A.Z Buba, and the Public Relations Officer of the Adamawa State chapter of the National Union of Pensioners lamented that, “It is frustrating, but we are trying to stay positive.”
No respite for Anambra pensioners yet
In Anambra State, pensioners are not getting what they expect from the state government. Their frustrations arise from delays in processing their retirement benefits including gratuity and pension.
A retired teacher, Grace Agwu lamented the delay in processing her retirement benefits months after bowing out of service, having put in 35 years.
She said the delay often puts the lives of pensioners in danger as old age and health challenges arising from hard labour they went through during years of service set in.
Agwu disclosed that despite the meagre pension being paid, it has been coming late as officials and those responsible for pensions especially pensioners from local government have always shown lack of commitment to their plight.
Okechukwu Anarado, a local government pensioner from Idemili North local government area of the state lamented that his pension has been coming but late.
Anarado said he retired in 2013 and has been suffering neglect by successive administrations in terms of facilitating speedy payment of his retirement benefits. He called on the state government to look into the plight of pensioners at the local government level.
Nasarawa retirees lament non-payment of pensions
Retirees in Nasarawa State have decried the non-payment of their pensions, with many expressing frustration over the hardship caused by the prolonged delay. Speaking to journalists in Lafia, the retirees disclosed that some of them have not received payments for over two years.
Emmanuel J. Amripa, Chairman of the Patriotic Forum of Retirees in Nasarawa State, said he has not been paid his pension for over two years despite having faithfully served the state for 35 years.
“Despite filing complaints and seeking clarification, no one has provided answers. I had no choice but to seek redress in court. Unfortunately, even while the case is ongoing, the government has completely stopped paying us since 2022.”
Another pensioner, Mrs. Regina Daniel, who retired in January 2018, recounted similar difficulties. According to her, the state government began cutting their pensions in November 2021 before halting payments entirely in April 2023.
“They used to give us half payments, but now, for 21 months, nothing has been paid.
“We can’t celebrate Christmas, and we can’t feed or clothe our grandchildren. This is how the government is punishing people who served for decades.
“Our gratuity is also withheld, and we are left with nothing. The situation is very disheartening,” Daniel said.
In Ebonyi, 4, 920 retired LG workers to celebrate Christmas without pay
In Ebonyi State, a total of 4,920 retired local government workers will not be paid their pensions and gratuities this festive season.
The retirees are owed pensions and gratuities by the local government authorities since 1996 when the state was created. About 1, 135 of the retirees are said to have died without collecting their entitlements.
Executive Secretary of the Local Government Staff Pension Board in the state, Emeka Nwonu said local government autonomy affected the payment of the retired workers. He, however, assured that the retired workers will start receiving their entitlements from the first quarter of next year.
Enugu LG pensioners groan over unpaid allowances, gratuities
The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Enugu State chapter, Ikechukwu Ekere, has decried the dire state of pensioners in the state, particularly those from primary schools and local government sectors, who have not been paid for over two years.
Ekere revealed that pensioners from these sectors have not received their monthly pensions for 26 months, leading to untold hardship for retirees and their families.
“You can imagine when a mother and a father retired from primary school or local government and two of them are yet to receive pension for 26 months. What is the fate of the family?”
According to Ekere, the situation is even more dire for pensioners in parastatals, as they have not received any pensions since February 2021. Gratuities have also not been paid for years.
“Those in primary schools and local governments were last paid their gratuities in 2006, the same with those in parastatals,” he lamented.
“The core civil servants are being paid as at when due. But what is the take home? The least paid pensioner in Enugu State goes home with less than N500. Is that a pension?”