33% Pension Increase Excites Pensioners….

Nigerian Pensioners

The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) has expressed its gratitude to President Goodluck Jonathan over implementation and payment of the long-awaited 33 per cent pension increase which the union had been pressing for since 2010, following the upward review of the minimum wage to N18,000.

The union, in a statement by its national president, Abel Afolayan, also urged the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) to redouble its effort in addressing other outstanding challenges facing the federal civil service pensioners which bordered on irregularities in the assessment of their pensions.

Afolayan, in the statement, acknowledged the effort and support of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF), Anyim Pius Anyim, who took it upon himself to ensure the realisation and actualisation of this dream for pensioners.

The statement read in part, “We would also like to commend the unwavering effort of all other stakeholders who had contributed in one way or the other to ensure this implementation, particularly the immediate past minister of labour and productivity, Emeka Wogu, the director-general PTAD, director, General Budget office, the immediate past Head of Service of the Federation, Alhaji Bukar Goni Aji, and the incumbent Head of Service of the Federation. Also worthy of appreciation is the coordinating minister for the economy and minister of finance, Dr Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala for releasing the fund to kick-start the payment.

“However, having appreciated you all, we wish to pause here and say that it is not yet “uhuru” until the inherent arrears of the 33 per cent from 2010 to September 2014 are paid, and we are anxiously looking forward to its being captured in the 2015 budget as promised and assured by the SGF on behalf of the Federal Government.”

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