Nigeria may soon witness another round of nationwide protests, this time from its most vulnerable citizens — pensioners. Retirees across the country have issued a stern warning to the Federal Government, demanding the immediate settlement of seven months’ arrears of the N32,000 pension increment alongside the long-promised N25,000 palliatives, or face mass demonstrations before the end of September.
The uproar stems from what the pensioners describe as “gross neglect” and “insensitivity” to their plight. President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had in August 2024 approved an increment of N32,000 for pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme, and payments commenced from August 2024 to January 2025. But since February 2025, the government has failed to release the monthly increment, leaving pensioners stranded and struggling under rising inflation.
In addition, the N25,000 palliative package, announced as a cushion against the biting economic hardship caused by subsidy removal, has not been paid even once.
Speaking on the matter, Comrade Mukaila Ogunbote, Chairman of the Coalition of Federal Pensioners, Lagos Chapter, expressed frustration at what he described as the government’s indifference:
“Many of our members still receive between N12,000 and N15,000 monthly. This is not only insulting but also unbearable, especially after the government promised a new increment. The cost of living is beyond imagination — food, drugs, transport, everything is up. We cannot continue to live like beggars in our own country.”
The Coalition further disclosed that since the removal of fuel subsidy in May 2023, at least 23 pensioners have died from conditions linked to poverty and lack of access to essential medicines. Families of retirees lament that the government’s broken promises are worsening their suffering, pushing many into despair.
The pensioners vowed that unless the Federal Government clears the backlog and commences palliative payments before September runs out, they will embark on a coordinated nationwide protest to make their voices heard.
“This is not just about arrears; it is about the dignity of senior citizens who served this nation. A country that abandons its elderly is planting seeds of instability,” Ogunbote warned.
As September draws to a close, all eyes are now on the Federal Government to act swiftly. The looming showdown could inflame already tense public sentiment, especially as Nigerians continue to grapple with skyrocketing prices of food, transportation, and essential goods.
For the pensioners, this is not just a demand for money, but a fight for survival — and they are ready to take their battle to the streets if ignored any longer.