The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) has revealed that some retirees in the country are still receiving monthly pensions as low as ₦500. Alhassan Musa, the NUP Secretary for Kaduna State, described the situation as “pathetic,” highlighting that many of these pensioners, who served the nation, are now living in difficult conditions.
Musa noted that the worst affected are retirees in most Southern and oil-producing states, while those in some Northern states and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) receive slightly better pensions, ranging from ₦3,500 to ₦18,000. Only Kaduna State, under the former Governor Nasir El-Rufa’i, has implemented a minimum pension of ₦30,000 since 2020.
Given the harsh economic conditions, Musa advocated for a 50% increase in the minimum pension, aligning it with the new national minimum wage of ₦70,000. He urged the federal government to ensure that no pensioner receives less than ₦70,000 monthly, arguing that pensioners should have the same benefits as current workers.