Pensioners Threaten Street Protests Over Unpaid Payment of N25,000 Wage Award
The Federal Civil Service Pensioners Branch (FCSPB) has urged the Federal Government to immediately fulfill its promise of paying the N25,000 wage award to pensioners. The call was made by Mr Sunday Omezi, President of the association, during a news conference in Abuja.
Omezi expressed disappointment over the government’s failure to honor its commitment, highlighting that pensioners had not received any payment since the promise was made in August 2023. He warned that if the payments were not made promptly, pensioners might be compelled to take to the streets in protest.
The FCSPB President also called for a review of the outstanding pension from 2015, emphasizing that the usual five-year cycle for the review was long overdue. He noted that the review should be conducted whenever the national minimum wage was revised, as stipulated in the 1999 Constitution.
Pension is a constitutional right enshrined in the Nigerian Constitution, and Omezi stressed that it should not be subject to misinterpretation or uneven application. He called on the government to ensure fairness and uphold the rights of pensioners.
Omezi further alleged that pensioners had been marginalized and excluded from government policies and programs. He expressed concern that pensioners were being treated with disrespect, with their issues considered inconsequential.
In conclusion, Omezi appealed to the government to fulfill its responsibilities and treat pensioners fairly, honoring the contributions of past workers to the nation.
TheGuardian News
