Lagos pensioners issue 14-day ultimatum to Sanwo-Olu over unpaid entitlements

The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Lagos State Chapter, has given Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu a 14-day ultimatum to address critical issues affecting retirees, warning of further action if their demands are not met.

The union, which represents Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS) pensioners, made this demand during a press conference in Lagos on Wednesday, expressing frustration over the government's continued neglect of their plight.

At the heart of their grievances is the non-implementation of the N32,000 pension increase, which was expected to take effect in July 2024 following the enforcement of the National Minimum Wage Act. In addition, pensioners are yet to receive 57 months of accrued arrears from the 2019 Consequential Adjustment, leaving many struggling to survive.

Rev. Oluremi Johnson, Chairman of NUP Lagos Chapter, lamented the government’s silence on these issues, revealing repeated but fruitless efforts to engage key officials.

“We have made spirited attempts to meet with the Head of Service and the LASPEC Director-General, but all to no avail. We have called, written letters, and followed due process, yet they continue to ignore us,”; Johnson stated.

The pensioners are also demanding the immediate payment of arrears from the 20% five-yearly pension increase, which became effective in January 2024, as well as the inclusion of all pensioners from state parastatals on the ORACLE payment platform.

Vice Chairman of the union, Rev. Dr. Titus Gregory Aderemi, expressed deep concern over the deteriorating welfare of elderly pensioners, many of whom receive as little as N5,000 monthly, an amount he described as grossly inadequate given the skyrocketing cost of living.

“They have messed the old people up. We have suffered. How will a government not take care of the elderly?”; Aderemi lamented.

Reflecting on his personal contributions, the 83-year-old retired teacher decried the state’s treatment of its senior citizens:

“I have spent decades shaping the lives of leaders in this country. Yet, we are left to struggle in our old age. Where is the justice?”;

Aderemi also cited the rising cost of living following the removal of fuel subsidies, which has worsened the financial hardship of pensioners whose benefits remain stagnant despite the country’s economic crisis.

With the 14-day ultimatum in place, the pensioners have vowed to escalate their actions if the government fails to meet their demands.

Johnson urged Governor Sanwo-Olu to take immediate steps to resolve these issues, stressing that pensioners deserve dignity, not neglect.

“We are senior citizens, and we don’t want to become senior miscreants. We appeal to the governor to come to our aid by approving all our entitlements.”; he concluded.