Amid tears and anguished expressions under the scorching Abuja sun, pensioners of the defunct NITEL and MTEL, gathered at the gate of the Federal Ministry of Finance headquarters, carrying placards with different inscription, urging President Bola Tinubu and the Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, Mr. Wale Edun, to save their lives by paying the prolonged 35 months of pension arrears owed to them.
Speaking with anguish, the pensioners said the continued delay in payment equates to a gradual erosion of their ability to survive. “Many of our pensioners, especially the elderly, are struggling to survive. We can no longer afford basic medical care, and many are unable to eat two square meals a day. Numerous pensioners have died due to hunger and preventable ailments, exacerbated by inflation that has eroded the value of our current pensions,” they lamented.
Under the banner of the Progressive NITEL/MTEL Pensioners’ Forum, the pensioners, led by Chairman Pat Emeri and Secretary Ekundayo Ajiboluwa, the pensioners stood tall, demanding justice and fairness. “We are not just individuals; we are a family of pensioners who have dedicated our lives to serving this great nation. We have waited patiently for our outstanding arrears of 35 months to be paid. These are months filled with struggles, worries, and uncertainty. Many of us face difficulties paying bills, feeding our families, and accessing medical care,” they said.
In addition to the immediate payment of the arrears, the pensioners urged the Finance Minister to ensure: Clearing of entitlements owed to deceased colleagues. Payment of benefits to their next of kin. A review and adjustment of pensions to reflect current economic realities. Implementation of the recently approved 28% wage increment for pensioners.
The pensioners also highlighted unaddressed concerns, such as the plight of verified pensioners not yet payrolled and the next of kin of deceased workers who served the country but died without receiving their rightful entitlements.
They recalled past efforts, stating, “We have repeatedly sought the attention of successive governments, but our pleas went unheard until former President Buhari’s administration took a stand. The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) was mandated to verify all staff laid off during the privatization process. Of the 15,212 ex-staff verified, 9,215 were placed on the payroll in October 2018, with assurances of monthly pensions for life.”
The pensioners acknowledged that the APC government under President Buhari paid 48 months of the outstanding 84 months of pensions. However, they expressed disappointment that under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, only one month has been paid, leaving 35 months of arrears unpaid.
“It is particularly painful that NITEL/MTEL remains the only entity among the ten privatized parastatals whose staff have not been fully settled. Even staff of NiMET (Nigerian Meteorological Services) were recently paid off,” they noted.
They went on to say: “We humbly implore you, Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, to urgently intervene. Each day we lose more pensioners, and these deaths are preventable if we could access the pensions we rightfully earned. We implore you to act in the name of humanity.
“We feel deeply disillusioned that out odnthr ten government-owned parastatals privatized, only NITEL/MTEL have been left behind. We mist humbly appeal to you, the Honourable Minister of Finance and Coordinating Minister of the Economy, to urgently intervene in this matter and alleviate more deaths and our sufferings.
“Time is of the essence. Everyday we lose more pensioners, these deaths are preventable if we could access the pension we rightfully earned m. We implore you to act in the name of humanity.”
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