South West Nigeria Pensioners Demand Unpaid Gratuities

Pensioners in South West Nigeria have expressed their distress over worsening hardships attributed to rising energy costs and unpaid gratuities. During a bi-monthly meeting in Abeokuta, Dr. Olusegun Abatan of the Nigeria Union of Pension South West Zone highlighted that the economic situation has deteriorated, exacerbated by global conflicts affecting inflation and living conditions.

Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde has approved a monthly payment of ₦10,000 to pensioners for three months to mitigate these effects, with expectations for continued support. However, pensioners warn of potential legal action against South West governors for the non-payment of gratuities, some of which have been outstanding for 15 years.

They criticized the current minimum pension of ₦25,000 as inadequate and urged labor unions to negotiate a realistic living wage. The union also encouraged pensioners to obtain voter cards ahead of the upcoming elections to ensure their welfare is prioritized by elected officials.