House Launches Probe into Non-payment of Presidential Wage Award to Nigerian Pensioners

Juliet Akoje in Abuja

The House of Representatives has resolved to set up an ad hoc committee to investigate the delay in implementing the N25,000 wage award and N32,000 palliative package approved by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for Nigerian pensioners nearly two years ago.

The House also urged the Ministry of Labour and Employment and the National Pension Commission (PenCom) to conduct a comprehensive nationwide audit of pension payments.

The lawmakers also urged state governments to emulate the federal government by making pension payments and welfare initiatives for retirees a top priority in their respective jurisdictions.

Furthermore, the House called on the Ministries of Finance, Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, the Accountant General of the Federation, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) — to implement all approved pension increases without further delay and also urged the Ministry of Finance to release all outstanding palliative funds intended for pensioners and ensure their immediate disbursement to help ease the retirees’ suffering.

These resolutions followed the adoption of a motion of urgent national importance on the need to address the intractable challenges faced by pensioners due to non-payment of pension increment by the government and allied institutions in Nigeria moved by the Deputy Chief Whip, Ibrahim Ayokunle Isiaka, at plenary yesterday.

Isiaka, while presenting the motion noted the prolonged non-payment of the presidentially sanctioned support, emphasising the urgent need for remedial action.

 He highlighted the invaluable contributions of Nigerian pensioners to national development and recalled that in October 2023, Tinubu approved a N25,000 wage award and an additional N32,000 pension increase for federal retirees.

He explained: “Many pensioners still face significant hardships due to the non-payment of these increments and the continued withholding of critical palliatives, resulting in insufficient income, unmet basic needs, and deteriorating health.”

He stressed that the 1999 Constitution of Nigeria (as amended) mandates social justice, human dignity, and state responsibility for citizens’ welfare and warned that failing to implement these approved benefits undermines constitutional values and poses a threat to social cohesion.

“Pensioners and their associations have made numerous unanswered appeals and petitions, which has only worsened their hardship”

He stressed the urgent need for government action to protect the dignity and well-being of Nigeria’s elderly citizens.

The House however, appealed to the Nigerian Pensioners’ Association and other relevant stakeholders to collaborate with government agencies in advocating for and overseeing the enforcement of pensioners’ rights and welfare.