Life in Retirement: Inside lives of senior citizens

Delayed arrears and meagre pensions have become the story of many retired civil servants in Nigeria, pushing them into lives of hardship, illnesses and total helplessness in some instances.

Once active public officers who dedicated decades of their lives to national service, now face loneliness, deteriorating health and daily struggles to survive, Weekend Trust gathered.

Some of them who spoke with our correspondents said, they rely on their children for survival.

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Akinyele Oludeimu, who served for 23 years at the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, expressed deep frustration over his current condition.

“Survival is very hard for many pensioners. The little we are paid cannot sustain us. It might cover expenses for today, but it won’t even get us to the bus stop tomorrow,” he lamented.

Oludeimu described the children of pensioners as lifesavers, especially as the rising cost of living and health challenges continue to worsen their condition.

“We keep adjusting and adjusting. Without our children, many of us would be dead by now. Thank God some of us are coping, but health-wise, it’s been tough. The cost of living in Nigeria is so high that survival requires a lot of money, which we simply don’t have. We’re just trying to adapt our lifestyles to survive,” he said.

He urged the federal government to increase the monthly pension and ensure prompt payments, adding that he had not received anything since January.

“The government should pay us when due. Even the monthly pensions no longer come regularly, and we’re still waiting on the palliatives the president approved over a year ago. Nothing has been done. Also, the minimum wage increase meant to reflect in our pensions hasn’t been implemented. They’re not owing monthly pensions per se, but the arrears since January remain unpaid,” he added.

Mr. Tajudeen Shittu, who served for 22 years at the Federal Ministry of Health, lamented that his monthly pension of N22,860, falls far short of meeting his basic needs.

“I don’t even get the full amount I’m supposed to be paid. Payments used to come at the end of the month, now we get them on the 6th or even the 10th of the next month. Our arrears are still pending. They told us we’d be paid N32,000 and something, but nothing has changed,” he said.

Shittu, who is also battling some health issues, said he depends entirely on his children for hospital bills.

“If not for my children, I don’t know what I would have done. God gave us these children, but not everyone is that lucky. How can anyone survive on this kind of pension without support,” he asked.

Modupe Williams, who served for 29 years at the Federal Ministry of Information, lamented delayed payments and poor pension also.

“They don’t pay regularly, and when they do, it’s late and incomplete. It’s God and my children that are keeping me afloat,” she said.

Similarly, Taiwo Adebayo, a former staff of the Federal Ministry of Establishment, said, “the money they pay us is an insult. In other countries, pensioners are respected. Here, some of us collect as low as N15,000 to N20,000. Is that money?,” he asked.

Adebayo, who worked as a secretary, urged the government to raise pensions to at least N50,000 per month.

“Let our families see that the government is taking care of us. I worked hard. We deserve better,” he said.

In Benue State, many retirees continue to suffer in silence, unable to find the peace and rest that should come with retirement.

Jonathan Akaster, who retired from the Benue State Civil Service in 2013, described his experience as a daily struggle with neglect and financial uncertainty.

“Retirement has been very challenging. We depend entirely on pension payments, but life’s demands don’t wait. Sometimes, I have to borrow money for medication and hope to repay when the next pension comes,” he told Weekend Trust in Makurdi.

He added that most retirees in the state are yet to receive their gratuities and are still owed arrears by previous administrations.

James Kumbur, another retiree in Benue, said though the state government has been paying pensions regularly, the money cannot do anything for him due to inflation.

“Our pension has not been adjusted to match the new minimum wage. We can’t afford basic food or medical bills. The government should adjust pensions to reflect economic realities,” he said.

“We served, we shouldn’t suffer”

In Niger State, the story is no different. Stephen Daniel Zitta, Chairman of the Retirees Pressure Group and a former Assistant Chief Registrar with the State High Court, said farming after retirement became impossible due to high cost and insecurity.

“Farming is capital intensive. You pay for land, herbicides, seeds, fertiliser etc, and then thieves steal your harvest,” he said.

Now 67, Zitta has resorted to rearing goats and chickens in his compound, not for profit, but to feed his family during festivities.

“A well-matured goat costs about N100,000 now. Chickens aren’t cheap either. Even animal feed is expensive, and pensions aren’t regular.”

Zitta, who retired in 2012, said many retirees still receive as little as N4,000 monthly. He criticised the government for not reviewing the pension upwards.

However, he commended the state government for enrolling retirees in the Niger State Health Contributory Scheme (NiCARE).

“Medical bills are our biggest burden. NiCARE has been a relief,” he said.

Still, most of his pension is spent on necessities. “I recharge my electricity meter with N10,000 monthly. Water cost N3,000. Thank God, I have only one child left in school,” he added.

Mr. Yohana Makeri, a former manager at Radio Niger, who retired in 2016, now runs a clothing shop to survive.

“My pension is not enough. I can’t rely on it to eat. Medical bills and feeding are expensive. But I must say, the current governor is trying to regularise payments,” he said.

He called on the government to do more by reviewing retirement benefits in line with the new minimum wage, saying that “Retirees deserve better living conditions after decades of service.”

In Abuja, Mr. Sule Haruna, 67, retired from the FCTA in 2019, as a Chief Information Officer on level 14 after 25 years of service. He now receives between N45,000 and N50,000 monthly.

“You’re expected to pay bills, pay school fees, buy food, recharge your phone and still take care of your health, all from that amount. I can’t even fuel my vehicle. If not for owning this house through the government’s owner-occupier scheme, we’d have been homeless now.”

Haruna also lamented the opacity of the pension calculation formula.

“Two retirees on the same level from different ministries receive different pensions. There’s no explanation. And the insurance companies handling the payments don’t give answers,” he said.

Mr. James Benedict, a retired Chief Confidential Secretary at the State House, Abuja, left in 2010 after 35 years of service.

“I retired on level 14, but my pension is not up to N30,000. I fall between the cracks of the old and new pension schemes, so I don’t benefit from any upward reviews.”

Benedict supports himself and his wife through a small restaurant run from their home.

“I am glad that I got a house under the owner-occupier scheme. I used my training allowances and gratuity to pay it off. That house is a blessing,” he said.

He urged the government to urgently review pensions in light of inflation and the rising cost of living.

Alhaji Kabiru Kolawole Tiamiyu, 78, retired from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2007 after 28 years in service. He lives alone in his one-bedroom home in Kubwa, Abuja, and receives a monthly pension that barely last ten days.

“Thank God for my children and kind neighbours. Feeding and healthcare are my biggest worries. Many of my fellow retirees have sold their homes and relocated to the village,” he said.

‘I eat once a day’

In Kano, a retired teacher, Nasiru Adamu Darki, who left service on Grade Level 15, said his current monthly pension of N117,000 is not enough to cater to his wife and nine children.

Darki, who retired four years ago, is still awaiting the payment of his gratuity, estimated at N4.6 million. He revealed that he no longer eats three meals a day because his family needs about N13,000 daily to survive. Although his pension — initially slashed to N82,000 for unclear reasons — was restored to N117,000 by Governor Abba Kabir Yusuf, he said it is still inadequate.

“I am angry and frustrated that after rendering meritorious service to the state, I can’t care for myself and family.  I was earning N150,000 monthly, but when I retired in 2021, they cut my pension to a paltry N82,000. Although, the current administration restored it to N117,000, which is commendable, the truth is we cannot feed properly. That is the most important issue now because life has become so expensive. Everything else is secondary,” the retired teacher said.

Despite his financial challenges, Darki said he continues to shoulder the burden of his children’s education.

“I can’t meet the financial demands of my children’s schooling. As they grow older, their needs increase. Right now, I am just struggling to feed them. Any other thing is secondary. I thank God I built my own house; otherwise, I can’t imagine being a tenant in these times. If my gratuity is paid, it would help me regain stability and support my family better,” he said.

Another retiree, a former deputy director living with a disability who preferred anonymity, said life has been tough since he retired seven years ago.

He explained that he lives in a rented apartment where the rent continues to rise, a situation he described as heartbreaking.

“Life has not been easy at all. It has been really tedious in the last seven years since I retired as a deputy director. I live in a rented house, and the rent keeps going up. Everything is very expensive now.

“Although I receive my monthly pension, there’s no sign of my gratuity being paid. I don’t know why. I even heard that some people who retired in 2022 have received theirs. When you retire, your friends start distancing themselves because they no longer see you as useful. It’s only when you are working that people value you,” he added.

Habibu Kwalli, another senior citizen, relies solely on his monthly pension to survive after retiring from service five years ago. Like others, his main concern is the non-payment of his gratuity — a substantial sum that could help him start a business to supplement his pension.

“You work your whole productive life, but getting your entitlement becomes a privilege. Meanwhile, politicians continue to award themselves outrageous salaries and allowances. If workers cannot access their benefits after serving the country, then the country is doomed,” he said.

MrJoseph Edegbo, who retired from the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) in 2010 as Controller News, believes retirees have been completely forgotten.

He criticised the Contributory Pension Scheme introduced by the Olusegun Obasanjo administration, saying it brought hardship to pensioners.

“What you’re paid as pension after retirement is what you continue to receive until you die. There’s no review or increment. For example, if you were paid ₦20,000 when you retired, that’s what you keep getting, even in today’s economy,” he said.

Edegbo said things have worsened, especially with the removal of fuel subsidies.

“Last year, the government gave civil servants ₦35,000 monthly for six months as relief, but retirees under the scheme didn’t benefit. You can’t even fill your fuel tank with ₦20,000 now, let alone survive on it for a whole month. But we thank God that we are still surviving,” he said.

He noted that except for the military, all civil servants are under the Contributory Pension Scheme, which is why groups like the police are demanding to be exempted from it.

“What we were paid 10 years ago is still what we are paid today. Retirees are dying in silence. Even the ₦25,000 palliative promised by the federal government has not been redeemed. We go to the same markets and hospitals as everyone else and still have to afford the basics.”

On how he manages, he said: “We thank God. Some people are helping, and some of us who are retired but not tired are finding ways to survive. Retirees should be included in all welfare considerations. We’ve served this country and deserve better treatment.”

Farming to the rescue

Mr. Robinson Erebi, who retired from the National Population Commission, also said his pension is not enough to meet his basic needs, including medication.

His saving grace, he said, is farming.

“With the way prices are rising, farming is what is sustaining me today,” he said. “Though I benefit from the Contributory Pension Scheme, the money I receive is not reflective of current economic realities.”

He called for pension adjustments based on the salaries of current civil servants on the same grade level.

“How can you afford drugs now with the way pharmaceutical prices have shot up? We were not included in the new minimum wage. The government should consider us.

“Life after retirement in Nigeria is full of suffering, unlike in other parts of the world. That’s why I advise those still in service to invest in farming or any side business, so that they have something to fall back on.

“If I had relied solely on my pension, I’d have been suffering. Who has pension ever helped? You need steady income to manage your health and basic needs in retirement, which pension alone cannot provide,” he added.

Elder Chris Odi, a former Director of Information, retired from the Bayelsa State Civil Service in 2020.

He said, “the first shock was the drastic reduction in income — from salary to pension. My pension is N114,000, far less than what I earned while in service. It’s hard to adjust.

“With the way prices keep rising, it’s difficult to survive. I spend between N26,000 and N30,000 on medications monthly. In advanced countries, senior citizens enjoy free healthcare, but not here.”

He added that he has two children in secondary school, with one about to enter university — another financial strain.

Odi said he was fortunate to live in a government-owned house. “If I were paying rent, I don’t know how I would cope. A decent two-bedroom flat goes for as much as N500,000 a year, and that’s if it has water. If it’s fenced, the cost is even higher.”

He expressed frustration over how retirees are treated.

“The government is not helping. Pensioners are treated like outcasts. At Christmas, bonuses were paid to workers but not to us. When the minimum wage was implemented, pensioners in the state got just N10,000. Now, N35,000 is about to be paid as a wage award, and again, we are excluded. Yet, we all go to the same market.”

He concluded, “It’s been tough, but we thank God for His grace in our lives.”

Retired, forgotten

A retired federal civil servant and recipient of the national honour of Member of the Federal Republic (MFR), Dr. Mrs Fika, in an interview with Weekend Trust lamented the condition of retirees in Nigeria, describing it as unfortunate and disheartening. Dr. Fika, who served both in state and the federal civil service, said, “we thought that after many years of service, we would retire with some security. But today, things are not okay at all”. 

Dr. Fika noted low salaries during service as the root of the problem. According to her, pension is calculated based on salaries earned while in service, which were already poor. As a result, many retirees now receive as little as ₦20,000 monthly.

 “That amount barely meets basic needs, especially with today’s high cost of living,” she said, adding that only those lucky to have farmland or support from children manage to survive.

On medical care, she said that retirees are left to fend for themselves as they are under no medical insurance coverage, even though old age comes with inevitable health issues.

“In many countries, retirees get free medical services. But here, we don’t have that luxury. Basic tests like sugar, cholesterol, kidney or liver function can cost up to ₦30,000. How can a retiree with ₦20,000 pension afford that? Many suffer and die in silence,” she said.

While there have been reports of a presidential approval for pension review, Dr. Fika said retirees are yet to feel any impact. “Approval is one thing. Implementation is another. We are stuck between the devil and the deep blue sea.”

On the popular belief that some civil servants are corrupt and, therefore, enrich themselves while in service, she said, “I don’t believe most civil servants are corrupt. From my experience, there isn’t much money to steal. Yes, a few indulge in corruption, but the majority don’t see enough resources to misappropriate”.

Recalling housing benefits she accessed, she said, “In 2006, houses were sold to sitting tenants at subsidised rates. We benefited from that. New workers today don’t enjoy such.”

She said all her children and stepchildren now work with the federal government, a reflection of the values of discipline and contentment she and her husband, Dr. Adamu Muhammad Fika, a former Clerk of the National Assembly and Federal Permanent Secretary, instilled in them.

“We also emphasise the importance of saving because salaries and pensions today are not enough,” she added.

On the issue of farming as a side occupation for civil servants, she acknowledged it as a legal and necessary fallback. However, she noted that current schemes meant to support farming are not accessible to ordinary civil servants due to collateral requirements.

“These schemes end up being accessed by the big men,” she said.

She recounted how she and her husband turned forested land behind their Abuja home into a thriving backyard farm, rearing animals.

“Everyone just needs to cut their coat according to the size of their cloth,” she advised.

Dr. Fika urged relevant government agencies to address the growing concerns of public servants and retirees, warning that neglecting their welfare would ultimately harm governance itself.

A retired federal permanent secretary who preferred anonymity said contrary to public belief, directors in the civil service currently earn higher salaries than permanent secretaries, despite the latter bearing more responsibilities.

Speaking in an interview with Weekend Trust, the retired official said the general perception that permanent secretaries live large and enjoy substantial benefits is misleading.

“When I became a permanent secretary, my salary dropped. I had to confirm from colleagues to be sure it wasn’t a mistake,” he said. “As of 2020 when I retired, I was earning 750,000 monthly. Today, a serving director earns around 850,000.”

He explained that once a civil servant is appointed as a permanent secretary, their pension contributions cease, and their benefits are calculated based on their last grade before the appointment, which is typically that of a director.

“From that point on, you’re considered a political appointee. And if you retire honorably after serving at least 20 years, you continue receiving your last salary as your pension. But that salary doesn’t change, it’s frozen,” he said.

The former official described the current conditions of retired civil servants as harsh, noting that his monthly utility bills, if he maintained his pre-retirement lifestyle, would exceed 550,000.

“I’ve had to switch to more affordable options to manage costs. The truth is, the system is not designed to favour retired permanent secretaries,” he said.

He also faulted the contributory pension scheme and its limited benefits for core civil servants, expressing regret that he did not use his influence to secure better positions for his family members in high-paying agencies.

Asked whether he would encourage his children to join the civil service, he responded: “Absolutely not. Core civil servants are the ones suffering. 

‘Our pension can’t buy a bag of rice’

Engr. Ali Fatoma, a retired Director of Public Buildings at the Federal Ministry of Works and Housing, said life after retirement has become increasingly difficult due to stagnant pension payments amid rising living costs.

Fatoma, who retired in 2014 after 35 years of service, told Weekend Trust that his monthly pension of about N120,000 used to cover basic needs, including transportation and food. “Back then, I could buy a bag of rice for N8,000 and fuel my car with less than N8,000. Today, the entire pension can’t do either,” he lamented.

Now sustaining himself through small-scale farming in Keffi, Fatoma said many retirees survive only because of support from their children. He urged the federal government to peg pensions to inflation and review them regularly.

“Our parents served the nation; we bear the burden”

In Sabon Gari Tudun Wada, Kaduna, stories of resilience echo through households where children of retired or deceased civil servants bear the burden of family survival amid rising inflation and economic hardship.

Among them is Babangida Muhammad, who shared the struggles he and his family faced after the death of their father, a federal civil servant, last year.

Babangida’s voice carries both reflection and quiet determination as he recalls their situation. “Although he died last year, honestly, his pension was not enough to meet our needs, especially given the high cost of living. The money was barely enough to buy anything before it ran out. Thankfully, he never relied solely on his pension, knowing how expensive life had become. What we used to buy for N5,000 now costs N30,000, yet his pension never increased.

“I also have younger siblings, so life is not sustainable if one depends only on pension payments,” he said.

Babangida, who now works with a private company, said he and his siblings had to take on financial responsibilities for the household even before their father’s death. Despite their own challenges, they supported their late father until the end.

“I work with a private company, and life is manageable by God’s grace. Even so, I was supporting my father until he passed, despite having my own responsibilities,” he added.

He attributes his survival to divine providence and personal effort.

“It is truly by God’s mercy that we survive on the little income from work. If any pension comes in, we use it to cover a few expenses. I wouldn’t say the pension is useless; it helps manage the household, though it’s not much, which is why I have to assist most times,” he explained.

Babangida’s story mirrors that of Ismail Qasim, another Kaduna resident who took care of his family after their father, also a retired federal civil servant, passed away. Ismail said the current cost of living makes life unbearable for pension dependents, especially when young breadwinners carry family responsibilities.

“Anyone who understands how life is today knows how difficult it has become. Carrying the burden of younger siblings and family members is no small matter, especially since family ties aren’t as strong as before.

“Pension is a small amount paid monthly, but daily responsibilities far outweigh that sum. I am the eldest in our family, with seven younger sisters. After our father passed, the burden of their education and marriage fell on me and our mother, with occasional support from her relatives,” he said.

Despite the overwhelming burden, Ismail and his mother pushed through adversity. Their success today is a product of perseverance and divine guidance.

“Life was very challenging, but with patience and God’s help, we succeeded. All my sisters are now married. I believe the government should support children of deceased civil servants. These are people whose parents served the country and deserve care.

“Too often, when a civil servant dies, their children are left without sufficient support and fall into hardship,” he said.

Ismail believes systemic intervention is necessary. He calls on the government to go beyond traditional pensions and initiate structured support for families left behind. 

“Our parents served the nation; we bear the burden”

“Beyond assisting retired civil servants, the government should establish a specific fund to support the education of their children until they graduate. For those involved in trades or small businesses, there should be programmes to help them sustain their families.

“It is painful to see these children left to shoulder the burden of caring for their parents without strong means of livelihood. Despite their parents’ contributions, once they die or retire, their families are neglected. In many communities, there is no one to assist, so the government must step in,” he advised.

To build effective support systems, Ismail urged the government to conduct a census of children left behind by deceased civil servants to monitor and support them better.

Benjamin Oguntimehin, son of Mrs. Roseline Oguntimehin, who served at the Federal Ministry of Works, narrated his family’s ordeal, saying they depended on his mother’s pension after his father died in 2011.

Until her retirement in 2006, life was fair. But since retiring, she has not received any pension, dashing hopes of survival through monthly payments.

“It has been very tough to survive; even feeding is a challenge. My mum is a widow, so my elder sister and I work to meet the household needs,” he said.

Benjamin, who recently completed his National Diploma (ND) at the Federal Polytechnic Ede, Osun State, stressed that he and his sister provide for the household, including rent for their apartment in Ikotun.

He said the non-payment of his mother’s pension has been worrying but noted they console her to ease the burden.  “She is always thinking about it, but we take the burden off her,” he said.

Workers’ failure to plan before retirement worrisome – NUP

Meanwhile, the leadership of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) attributes retirees’ challenges to workers’ failure to plan for life after retirement, noting that many do not take it seriously.

In an interview with Weekend Trust, NUP spokesman, Bunmi Ogunkolade, advised workers across all sectors not to wait until retirement age to prepare for the future. He argued that even if retirement age were extended to 80, it would come one day.

Ogunkolade highlighted that the law allows civil servants to combine farming with their jobs as a form of retirement investment.

When reminded about insecurity hampering farming, he noted other agricultural ventures such as backyard fisheries.

“One major challenge is lack of preparation. Many people don’t prepare for retirement. Even though retirement is real, no one prepares. We know death is real, but how many prepare for it? People say, ‘I’m still young, I don’t want to die.’ Does death think like that?” he said.

He urged workers to think about the future and seek alternative income sources even 10 years before retirement.

“Many directors don’t even have farms,” he added.

Ogunkolade also advised workers to be productive in their youth rather than simply carrying files in offices. “For me, if you spend 15 to 20 years in government, plan for yourself early because you will still be young to do other things. I advised a CBN staff who wanted to retire early to spend at least 10 years more to focus on personal investments. Many workers get carried away with perks, forgetting that people respect their office, not them. Once you leave, that’s it,” he said.

CSOs speak

Mr. Ezenwa Nwagwu, Executive Director of the Peering Advocacy and Advancement Center in Africa (PAACA), said many challenges facing senior citizens stem from lessons not learned.

“Before becoming senior citizens, these individuals were active citizens. Many in public service don’t think they will be old one day. Those who demand bribes from pensioners today don’t think they will become pensioners themselves. There is a lesson there,” he said.

He emphasised that the government has a duty to care for vulnerable groups, including the elderly, but irresponsible governance affects all generations.

“Young people must think about their future and social security. No matter how strong you are, if life is preserved, you will grow old. Knowing this, what should we do now to avoid future complaints?” Nwagwu asked.

Regarding the National Senior Citizenship Centre, he said, “You cannot be better than the citizens you have. If those running the centre lack personal values and self-interest, the institution will function like a typical bureaucracy.”

Mr. Nnamdi Odo, Programme Officer at Cleen Foundation, stressed the need for inclusive social protection, especially health insurance for senior citizens who have contributed to the country’s development.

“It is important for governance at all levels to have a robust framework for social protection, ensuring quality health care access for senior citizens. This would improve their quality of life in old age,” he said.

He noted that many elderly people suffer from ailments like rheumatism and need free medical care. He urged governments to consider adopting old people’s homes to care for those abandoned by family.

“Many old people are left alone because young people have moved away. Governments need to step in. Taking care of old people will also benefit Nigeria because they are a blessing,” he said.

PenCom moves to clear pension backlog

The National Pension Commission (PenCom) has assured retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) that delays in the payment of accrued pension rights are being addressed, with the federal government making significant progress in clearing outstanding liabilities.

Speaking in an interview with Weekend Trust, the spokesperson of the commission, Oloeoran Omolola said the federal government had already paid accrued pension rights up March 2024, a development he described as a turning point in the battle against long-standing pension delays.

He explained that while the CPS was introduced in 2004 to eliminate the issue of delayed payments, by ensuring that employees and employers contribute monthly into Retirement Savings Accounts (RSAs), challenges persist for a category of federal workers who served before the reform.

“These delays are mostly for employees in treasury funded ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) who had worked prior to the introduction of the CPS in 2004. The government is required to pay what we call accrued pension rights for service rendered before the scheme took off,” he said.

He said the contributory scheme works efficiently for private sector workers and post-2004 public servants who complete their careers under CPS, as they simply access their pension directly from their Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) without any issues.

He added that prior to now, some retirees waited up to 18 months or more to access their benefits, but the situation has improved significantly with the recent releases by the federal government.

“By next month, we expect to be fully up to date with the payments. The backlog is being cleared, and delays will soon become history,” he said.

He also disclosed that in February 2024, the Federal Executive Council approved the issuance of a ₦758 billion bond to offset all outstanding liabilities under CPS. This includes unpaid accrued rights and pension increases that had not been implemented for several years.

However, the official admitted that some delays are still caused by the retirees themselves due to late or incomplete documentation.

“Our regulations require workers to begin their retirement documentation process six months before retirement. The documents are basic, first appointment letter, pay slips, etc. These are things every worker should already have,” he said.

He noted that most of the long queues and delays reported at pension offices are legacies of the pre-CPS era and should not happen under the current scheme, where each retiree has an individual RSA.

He said public servants who worked before 2004 face more complex documentation processes due to the need to compute back-service liabilities, including payslips from June 2004, which are necessary for calculating entitlements under the old scheme.

“For those who joined the public service after 2004, such complications don’t apply. Their documentation is much simpler,” he added.

Contributions from  Mustapha A. Mustapha (Abuja), Dotun Omisakin (Lagos), Hope Abah (Makurdi), Abubakar Akote (Minna), Ahmad Datti, (Kano),Adam Umar (Suleja), Maryam Suka (Kaduna), ohammed Ibrahim Yaba( Kaduna) , Abbas Jimoh (Abuja)& dowu Isamotu (Abuja)