In a passionate appeal driven by compassion and national responsibility, the House of Representatives has called on the Federal Government to immediately implement all approved increments in pension payments and to release the long-withheld palliatives meant for Nigeria’s pensioners.
The lawmakers, during plenary, raised concerns over the persistent neglect and deepening hardship faced by senior citizens, many of whom devoted their most productive years to public service but now live in conditions unworthy of their sacrifices. According to the House, failure to act swiftly on this matter could further erode the dignity of pensioners and cast a shadow over the government's commitment to social justice and inclusive governance.
The motion, which received unanimous support across party lines, emphasized that several pension increment approvals had been made over the years but were yet to be implemented by relevant authorities. Similarly, palliative materials and financial reliefs earmarked for pensioners under various intervention programs remain unreleased—raising serious questions about accountability and empathy in the corridors of power.
While commending the National Pension Commission (PenCom) and other regulatory agencies for ongoing reforms, the House insisted that no reform could be meaningful if pensioners continue to be treated as an afterthought in national planning.
"The tears of our elderly should never be the price of bureaucratic delay," one lawmaker remarked. "It is time to honor their years of service with timely and adequate support."
The resolution adds to mounting pressure on the executive arm of government to respond more decisively to the plight of vulnerable populations amid soaring inflation and a struggling economy.