Pensioners urge FG to pay outstanding entitlements

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The Federal Parastatals and Private Sector Pensioners Association of Nigeria has urged the Federal Government to pay outstanding pension entitlements, including three months of the N25,000 monthly subsidy-removal palliative, to eligible beneficiaries.

The association also called on the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate to clarify the implementation of pension harmonisation, which took effect in January 2026, expressing concern over uncertainty surrounding its scope and implications for retirees under the Defined Benefit Scheme.

The demands were contained in a communiqué made available to our correspondent on Monday following the association’s National Executive Council meeting held in Abuja on Thursday, October 22, 2026. The communiqué was signed by its President-General, Benjamin Maisamari Amako, and General Secretary, Franklin Erinle.

The association, known as FEPPPAN, also called for measures to protect elderly, sick and physically incapacitated pensioners from losing access to their monthly pensions because of difficulties with the planned relaunch of the I Am Alive verification platform.

On outstanding pension obligations, the association urged the Federal Government and relevant agencies to expedite the settlement of verified claims, warning that delayed payments could worsen retirees’ financial difficulties amid rising living costs.

It also called on the government to direct the immediate payment of the remaining three months of the N25,000 monthly subsidy-removal palliative intended for vulnerable citizens, where applicable to eligible beneficiaries.

FEPPPAN said the prompt settlement of outstanding obligations would “ease the financial difficulties of affected pensioners and reinforce confidence in the pension administration system.”

The association stressed that pensioners who had completed their years of service deserved financial security, timely payment of entitlements and access to essential healthcare services.

On pension harmonisation, which took effect in January 2026, FEPPPAN expressed concern over its implementation and requested that the relevant government circular be made available or its provisions clearly explained to affected retirees.

It said the objectives, implementation arrangements and expected benefits of the exercise should be communicated transparently to eliminate uncertainty among pensioners.

The association maintained that “pension harmonisation should translate into improved monthly pension benefits for all eligible pensioners.”

It also appealed to the managements of self-funding organisations, including aviation agencies, to demonstrate magnanimity and ensure that their pensioners benefited from appropriate harmonisation measures.

FEPPPAN further called for a stakeholders’ meeting with PTAD to address complaints, clarify policy decisions and improve communication between the directorate and pensioners’ representatives.

The association said the proposed meeting should provide an opportunity to “clarify policy decisions, resolve complaints, improve pension administration and ensure that pensioners receive timely and accurate information on matters affecting their welfare.”

It proposed regular engagements supported by a mechanism for documenting complaints, tracking unresolved cases and communicating progress to affected pensioners.

The association said consultations should cover pension payments, outstanding entitlements, pension records, healthcare enrolment and other administrative issues affecting its members.

On the planned relaunch of the I Am Alive verification platform, FEPPPAN urged PTAD to provide clear information on verification procedures, requirements and deadlines before implementation.

It called for adequate safeguards to ensure that eligible pensioners were not excluded from payments because of technical difficulties or their inability to complete the process independently.

The association stressed that “no eligible pensioner is excluded from pension payments or disadvantaged because of difficulties with the verification process.”

It specifically requested assistance for elderly, sick and physically incapacitated retirees who might struggle with the verification exercise, adding that support mechanisms should prevent unnecessary hardship or disruption to pension payments.

Meanwhile, FEPPPAN commended President Bola Tinubu for the timely payment of monthly pensions to retirees under the Defined Benefit Scheme and appealed to him to sustain the practice.

The association acknowledged “the importance of regular pension payments to the welfare, dignity and financial security of retired workers, particularly amid prevailing economic challenges and rising living costs.”

It urged the President to ensure that pensioners continued to receive their entitlements promptly and without interruption.

On healthcare, the association called on PTAD, in collaboration with the National Health Insurance Authority, to simplify enrolment into the Pensioner Health Insurance Scheme.

It expressed concern that administrative and technological barriers could prevent eligible pensioners from registering and accessing healthcare benefits.

To address the problem, FEPPPAN called for assisted registration, accessible physical enrolment facilities and appropriate support for retirees who could not travel because of age, illness or disability.

It also urged the authorities to identify eligible pensioners who had yet to enrol and help them complete the process.

“No eligible pensioner should be denied access to the scheme because of difficulties with registration, verification or other administrative procedures,” the association said.

FEPPPAN further advocated an effective complaints-resolution mechanism to address enrolment difficulties and other challenges pensioners might encounter while seeking healthcare services.

The association also urged PTAD and other relevant authorities to provide clear, timely and accessible information on pension-related services, eligibility requirements, administrative procedures and channels for resolving complaints.

It emphasised that elderly and vulnerable retirees should receive appropriate assistance when dealing with pension records, verification, healthcare enrolment and outstanding entitlements.

Reaffirming its commitment to constructive engagement with the Federal Government, PTAD, NHIA and other institutions, FEPPPAN said transparent and responsive pension administration was essential to protecting retirees’ interests.

It urged all relevant authorities to give “prompt and favourable consideration” to the resolutions contained in the communiqué.

Deborah Tolu-Kolawole is a journalist at Punch Newspapers with four years of experience covering Nigeria’s vast education sector as well as related areas such as politics, health, security, and labour. She blends rigorous reporting with digital storytelling to bring clarity and insight to complex issues affecting learners, educators, and policymakers. Deborah was a nominee for The Future Awards Africa (TFAA) Prize in Journalism, recognising her impactful reporting and contributions to Nigerian media. Her work reflects strong newsroom experience, editorial judgment, and a commitment to accurate, audience-focused journalism. In addition to her reporting, she is fluent in multiple languages and serves as a contributing member of The Punch editorial board.

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