Minimum Wage; Effect N32,000 pension increase–pensioners urge Federal Govt
Minimum Wage; Effect N32,000 pension increase–pensioners urge Federal Govt
Some pensioners have urged the Federal Government to pay the N32, 000 pension increment according to the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act, 2024.
The pensioners, in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja on Sunday, said they needed their entitlements to take care of their feeding, medicals and other bills.
The pensioners, who complained about the hard times they faced, urged the Federal Government to increase their monthly pension in line with the present economic reality.
The National Public Relations Officer (PRO), the Nigeria Union of Pensioners Contributory Pension Scheme Sector (NUPCPS), Mr Etheleert Ibeh, urged the government to pay all outstanding arrears of increment.
He said that the pensioners had not received any pension increment whereas, minimum wage had been increased so many times.
Ibeh said that according to the act, anytime there was an increment in minimum wage, a certain percentage would be added to the pension.
According to him, non pensioners and pensioners buy things from the same market.
” Before, we receive little pension that we can hardly survive on. And now, with the economic hardship, we still receive the same money. This makes it difficult for us to survive.
” Some of was still have children in school, how do they pay their school fees? Some live in a rented apartment, how do they pay? how do we feed and pay for medical bills?
“Once you get to 60 years, you can no longer access your health insurance, whereas, it is that period you need it most, ” he said.
Mrs Obialunanma Uzor, who retired as a Deputy Director, said that nothing had been paid to her since she retired in May 2024, and her health insurance had been stopped.
“My NHIS that was stopped immediately after my retirement has been a huge challenge, I spend a lot on lab tests and drugs instead of just ten per cent.
” We pensioners need health insurance, we are old and need medical attention now,” Uzor said
Mrs Ogheneyukaro Gloria, another pensioner, said that some Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) were not sincere with their operations.
” They operate selectively. They usually attend to pensioners who choose to remain with programmed withdrawal and ignore those who choose annuity.
” They should not compel us to be where it benefits them. We have the right to make our decisions since our money is involved,” she said.
Gloria urged the regulators to investigate and monitor operations of the PFAs.
Alhaji Musa Adamu, who retired as a Director in May 2024, said that he had not received his benefits to date.
“We are still waiting for the Federal Government to release the accrued rights to my PFA to calculate my pension.
“My family and I are hungry. I can not pay my children’s school fees.
“My landlord is on my neck, and to top it all, I can not access the National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) anymore.
“If you look into my eyes, you will know that I need urgent medical attention. We, the pensioners in this country, are suffering,” he said.
NAN reports that programmed withdrawal is a retirement plan offered by PFAs for monthly/quarterly payments to a retiree for a lifetime.
Also, annuity is a retirement plan purchased from an approved life insurance company that provides monthly or quarterly income to the retiree during his/her lifetime.(NAN)
News
President Tinubu returns to Nigeria after Abu Dhabi outing
President Tinubu returns to Nigeria after Abu Dhabi outing
President Bola Tinubu has returned to Nigeria after participating in the 2026 Abu Dhabi Sustainability Week (ADSW 2026).
Presidential spokesperson, Mr Bayo Onanuga, disclosed this in a statement issued on Saturday in Abuja.
The president attended the summit alongside some members of his cabinet.
On the sidelines of the summit, Nigeria signed a Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA) with the United Arab Emirates (UAE).
The agreement is aimed at deepening economic cooperation, boosting bilateral trade and investment, and enhancing technology transfer.
It will also expand collaboration in key sectors, including energy, infrastructure, agriculture, mining and renewable energy.
In his address at the summit, Tinubu announced that Nigeria and the UAE would jointly host INVESTOPIA in Lagos in February.
The initiative is designed to attract global investors and accelerate sustainable investment inflows into Nigeria.
Tinubu also said Nigeria targets mobilising up to $30 billion annually in climate and green industrial finance.
He said the funds would support energy transition reforms and expand nationwide access to electricity. (NAN)
News
APC clears air on receiving letter of defection from another State Governor
APC clears air on receiving letter of defection from another State Governor
The Zamfara chapter of the All Progressives Congress (APC) has denied receiving a letter from Gov. Dauda Lawal seeking to defect to the party.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that there were speculations across the state over Lawal’s move to defect to APC.
A statement issued in Gusau on Saturday by the state APC Publicity Secretary, Malam Yusuf Idris, described the speculations as fabricated.
“The party came across a fabricated report purported to have emanated from one Tambarin Gusau claiming that Go Dauda Lawal has sent a letter to the party wanting to join the APC.
“The report is malicious, unfortunate, unfounded, mischievous and showed the unprofessional manner which some people can go in misleading others and causing chaos in a stable and a peaceful party like the APC.
“The APC has responsible channels where everything is done in a guided manner,” Idris said.
According to him, the party has not received any letter from Lawal as claimed through the imagination of the writer nor was the party aware of any recent moves by the governor to defect from the PDP to the APC.
“All members of the party and indeed the public especially in Zamfara should therefore disregard such report.,” Idris added.(NAN)
News
282 Passengers safe as plane makes emergency landing in Lagos
282 Passengers safe as plane makes emergency landing in Lagos
A Qatar Airways passenger plane on Friday made an emergency landing at the Murtala Mohammed International Airport in Lagos after developing a technical fault mid-flight.
The aircraft, which had 248 passengers and 12 crew members on board, was forced to land abruptly after the malfunction was detected while it was operating within Nigerian airspace.
The Lagos State Emergency Management Agency (LASEMA) confirmed the incident in a statement released by its Permanent Secretary, Dr. Olufemi Oke-Osanyintolu.
According to him, the agency was alerted to the situation through its 767 and 112 toll-free emergency lines, prompting an immediate response from emergency officials.
He explained that upon receiving the distress call, the LASEMA Response Team (LRT) was swiftly deployed to the airport to assess the situation and provide necessary support.
“Upon arrival at the scene, the LASEMA Response Team confirmed that the aircraft was in distress,” the statement noted.
“The pilot executed a safe landing on the runway at Murtala Mohammed International Airport with LASEMA Response Team and other emergency responders standing by on extreme high alert on the runway.
“Collaborative efforts of the multi-agency responders were coordinated. After proper check by the pilot and the engineering crew, the aircraft was moved to the apron for detailed inspection and prompt repairs.”
“All passengers of the distressed airplane were evacuated safely; no injuries reported, no loss of lives,” the statement said.
Despite the technical issue and the emergency landing, the agency stated that there was the aircraft experienced no major damage.
“The aircraft has been secured on the apron. Recovery activities have been completed,” the statement added.
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