The threat by pensioners to stage a nationwide naked protest is a painful reminder of Nigeria’s recurring failure to protect its most vulnerable citizens.
Development Diaries reports that retired federal workers under the Coalition of Federal Pensioners of Nigeria have issued a threat to stage a nationwide naked protest on 06 October.
According to a report by The Nation, the pensioners noted that they will embark on the protest if the federal government fails to pay their outstanding arrears and implement the N32,000 pension increment approved by President Bola Tinubu.
President Tinubu had, in October 2023, approved a N25,000 wage award as a palliative and a N32,000 increment in pensions for federal retirees.
Despite presidential approvals for palliatives and pension increments, retirees who spent decades serving the nation have been systematically sidelined.
This gap between policy pronouncements and implementation not only worsens the hardship of the elderly but also deepens mistrust in government institutions.
At the heart of this crisis lies a governance breakdown. Workers and youth corps members have promptly received their entitlements, yet pensioners remain ignored.
This selective compliance raises serious questions about accountability within the Ministries, Departments, and Agencies (MDAs) tasked with disbursements.
It also signals a lack of urgency in safeguarding the dignity and welfare of those who have already given their best years to public service.
There have been reports of pensioners dying because they cannot afford basic medication, food, or surgery, pointing to a moral and governance failure.
These are not just statistics; they are lives being cut short due to neglect. If pensioners have to consider a naked protest, this means the government is exposing its inability to uphold the social contract and protect citizens in their old age.
To avert further tragedy and embarrassment, Development Diaries calls on the federal government, through the National Pension Commission (PenCom), Ministry of Labour and Employment, Ministry of Finance and other relevant agencies including the Ministry of Humanitarian Services, the Office of the Accountant-General, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) to immediately release all outstanding arrears and implement the N32,000 increment.
We also urge President Tinubu to ensure his directives are carried out without delay while the National Assembly exercises oversight to guarantee compliance.
Photo source: NAN
