Pensioners threaten nationwide naked protest over unpaid benefits

The Coalition of Federal Pensioners of Nigeria has warned it will stage a nationwide naked protest on October 6 if the Federal Government fails to implement approved pension increments and palliatives.

Speaking at a press conference in Lagos, the coalition’s National Chairman, Mukaila Ogunbote—who also leads the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NIPOST chapter)—said retirees had given government until September to settle arrears and enforce President Bola Tinubu’s directives.

He noted that while workers quickly received the ₦35,000 palliative approved in October 2023, pensioners were yet to get their ₦25,000 nearly a year later.

He added that workers had since received additional palliatives for 10 months, but retirees’ requests for six months’ arrears remain unmet.

Ogunbote also accused the Ministry of Finance and the Accountant-General’s Office of failing to implement the President’s ₦13,000 pension increase, which he said was excluded from the 2024 and 2025 budgets.

Describing the situation as “injustice,” he said the symbolic protest would expose government neglect and highlight pensioners’ worsening plight amid rising living costs.

Other retirees echoed the concerns, lamenting hunger, lack of access to medication, and the burden of supporting unemployed dependents.

They appealed for urgent government action, with some urging First Lady Oluremi Tinubu to intervene.

Former Lagos NUP Chairman, Adebola Akinduture, warned that hunger remained the core grievance: “Food is medicine, yet without it, medicine is meaningless. Pensioners are starving.”

The coalition vowed to strip and march nationwide on October 6 if their demands are ignored.