Federal pensioners on Monday staged a protest at the Lagos office of the Pension Transitional Arrangements Directorate (PTAD), demanding the immediate payment of a ₦32,000 pension increment recently approved by President Bola Tinubu.
The protesters were led by the chairman of the Coalition of Federal Pensioners, Lagos Chapter, Mukaila Ogunbote.
They accused the authorities of delaying the implementation despite the presidential approval.
According to multiple reports, many of the protesters were carrying placards reading “PTAD is all about you, stop selection” and “No ₦32,000 increment.”
Speaking, Ogunbote said the delay in rolling out the increase has pushed many retirees “to the brink of survival.”
He also urged the federal government to act and accused the Finance Minister, Wale Edun, of obstructing payments, saying the minister “should give us our money.”
The President had approved the increment last year and ordered the implementation of the “long-overdue pension increases and a minimum pension guarantee” last Wednesday to provide a safety net for the most vulnerable pensioners under the CPS.
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The President gave the directive after receiving a briefing from Ms. Omolola Oloworaran, the Director General of the National Pension Commission (PenCom).
However, Ogunbote urged the federal government to come to their aid, describing what they received monthly as meager.
He accused the Minister of Finance, Wale Edun, of having a hand in their predicament, saying he should give them their money.
The Liaison Officer of PTAD, Cashmir Audu, calmed the nerves of the protesters, saying the President had ordered the payment of a N32,000 increment.
“It is the civil right of pensioners to protest anytime. We have repeatedly said that the N32,000 was approved last year, but unfortunately, we don’t have funds.”