Pensioners to FG: We’re suffering, pay our arrears

Many pensioners have expressed frustration over the delay in the payment of pension arrears by the Federal Government.

President Bola Tinubu had given approval for the N758 billion Treasury Bond by the Federal Executive Council (FEC) in February for payment of the arrears.

The National Assembly approved the implementation of the N758 billion Treasury bond on July 22.

The bond was to clear all government liabilities under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) retirees for more than decades.

The pensioners, who lamented over their sufferings, also urged the immediate implementation of the N758 billion treasury bond to increase their monthly pension in line with the present economic reality.

Speaking in Abuja on Sunday, July 27, 2025, Amina Lawal said some workers could not afford three meals, adding that it is harder for pensioners.

Lawal said: “We were happy after the announcement by the president that we are going to be paid, but we did not know we will have to wait this long for processing.

“Our hopes were raised and some have died while waiting for the money to be paid.

“We are begging for the immediate implementation, we are too old to be on the streets.”

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George Ose said pensioners have lost their lives in the struggle.

Ose stated: “My family and I are hungry. I can’t pay my children’s school fees. My landlord is on my neck and to top it all, I can’t access the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) anymore.

“If you look into my eyes, you will know that I need urgent medical attention. We the pensioners in this country are suffering.

“After working hard, if I knew I would suffer like this, I would not have given them the services I gave them.”

Joy Adewale, who retired with her husband in 2016, said she had been struggling with life.

Adewale added: “We have been struggling to feed with this stipend. l am suffering, my husband is suffering too. What is our offence? We served our nation for 35 years.

“After retirement, I opened a shop to sell soft drinks, but government demolished the shop. Now this amount cannot even feed my family and I, to say the least as well as our medical bills and other things.

“Some of us couldn’t cope with this hardship. Even my neighbour who retired two years ago died two months ago. People look down on us because we are retirees.”

The Star