The Coalition of Federal Pensioners of Nigeria has threatened to stage a nationwide nude protest on October 6 if the Federal Government fails to implement pension increases and provide palliatives.
The coalition’s National Chairman, Mukaila Ogunbote, who also leads the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NIPOST Chapter), issued the warning during a news conference in Lagos on Tuesday.
Ogunbote said pensioners had given the government until September to settle arrears, increments, and palliative payments, stressing that failure to act would leave them with no choice but to protest naked.
He recalled that in October 2023, President Bola Tinubu approved N35,000 for workers and N25,000 for pensioners as palliatives, but while workers received their payments within a month, pensioners were still waiting nearly a year later.
According to him, workers have since received additional palliatives for 10 months, while pensioners’ requests for six months’ arrears remain unmet. He added that Tinubu also directed a N13,000 increase in pensions, but the Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Accountant-General failed to implement it.
“When we enquired, we were told our N32,000 increment was omitted from both the 2024 and 2025 budgets. This is injustice,” Ogunbote declared.
Other retirees echoed his frustration.
- Mr. Fashola Oluwo, a former staff of the Federal Ministry of Information, said many pensioners could not afford essential medication, with some dying while waiting for increases.
- Mrs. Dupe Ogunniyi of FRCN appealed to the First Lady to intervene, noting that many retirees also shoulder the burden of supporting unemployed children.
- Mr. Adebola Akinduture, former Lagos NUP chairman, emphasized hunger as the most pressing issue: “We are hungry. Food is medicine, yet without it, medicine is meaningless. Pensioners are starving.”
The coalition vowed to take to the streets naked on October 6 if the government fails to address their demands.