NUP: 20 Kaduna retirees die amid prolonged pension payment delays

The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) has raised the alarm over the deaths of at least 20 retired senior public officers in Kaduna State, who reportedly passed away without receiving their retirement benefits.

The Secretary of the NUP in Kaduna State, Alhassan Balarabe Musa, disclosed this on Tuesday while speaking with journalist in Kaduna. He said the affected retirees included former Permanent Secretaries, Secretaries to the State Government, and Heads of Service.

According to Musa, the deaths occurred as a result of prolonged delays in the payment of pensions and gratuities owed by the state government to retirees and disengaged workers.

He explained that many pensioners had entered 2025 with hope that the government would finally resolve the long-standing issue of unpaid entitlements, but that optimism was gradually fading.

“We thought 2025 would be a year of relief and celebration for pensioners and disengaged workers in Kaduna State, but that hope is slowly dying,” Musa said.

He alleged that despite court judgments directing the state government to pay outstanding benefits, several senior retirees died without accessing their entitlements.

“About 20 former Permanent Secretaries, Secretaries to the State Government and Heads of Service have died without receiving what is rightfully theirs, even when court orders were in their favour,” he added.

Musa also criticised the state government for failing to implement the N32,000 pension increase for retirees under the Defined Benefits Scheme, noting that the delay had worsened the hardship faced by pensioners.

“We expected Kaduna State to be among the first to implement the N32,000 pension increase, but that expectation is gradually being dashed,” he said.

The NUP secretary appealed to Governor Uba Sani to urgently intervene, describing the situation of pensioners as dire and emotionally draining.

“Our people are dying in silence. They are voiceless, helpless and hopeless. We are appealing to the governor to show compassion and act quickly,” Musa stated.

He also highlighted the struggles of retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme, many of whom he said were unable to access their benefits.

“Most contributory pensioners are suffering quietly. Their tears have dried up, and the pain is now borne internally because the body can no longer cope,” he said.

Musa noted that many retirees rely solely on their pensions for survival, adding that delays in payments have severely affected their access to food, healthcare and shelter.

Kaduna State has faced repeated complaints in recent years from labour unions and pensioners over delays in pension payments and the treatment of disengaged workers. While the state government has announced reforms to improve the pension system and clear arrears, pensioners insist that the impact of those measures is yet to be felt by many retirees.

Musa urged the government to treat pension payments as both a legal and moral obligation, warning that continued delays would further deepen the suffering of elderly citizens.