The Coalition of Federal Pensioners of Nigeria has announced plans for a nationwide nude protest on December 8 to demand the payment of their outstanding pension increment arrears and palliative allowances.
The group said the protest would proceed simultaneously in Abuja, Lagos and all state capitals if the Federal Government fails to release the long-approved payments before the deadline.
National Chairman of the coalition and head of the NIPOST pensioners’ chapter, Mukaila Ogunbote, disclosed the plan in a statement issued on Friday in Lagos, accusing the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Accountant-General of abandoning senior citizens to hardship.
According to him, despite the Federal Government’s approval in 2023 of a ₦32,000 pension increment and a ₦25,000 six-month palliative allowance, pensioners across ministries and agencies “have not received a single kobo.”
Ogunbote said frustrations over the prolonged delay have reached “a breaking point,” warning that pensioners will no longer remain silent.
“The Ministry of Finance and the Accountant-General’s Office are not taking us seriously,” he said.
“All pensioners must come out en masse to fight this injustice. We must show the wound that our clothes are covering.”
He added that the protest would be continuous until payment alerts are received, noting that many pensioners are unable to feed, buy medication or cope with the current economic realities.
The demonstration, according to the coalition, will target strategic public locations such as the offices of the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) and stations of the Nigerian Television Authority (NTA).
The chairman also urged all affiliate pensioner groups to mobilise their members for what he described as a “historic showdown” with the government.
“Those who can’t come and go back should come with mats,” Ogunbote said.
“All pensioners must come out and fight for their rights.”
The Federal Government has yet to react to the planned protest.
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