The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Anambra State Council, has called on the state government to urgently harmonise pensions and clear outstanding pension and gratuity arrears, warning that many retirees are battling hunger, ill health and severe economic hardship.
The State Chairman of the union, Comrade Dr. Anthony C. Ugozor (JP), made the appeal during a press conference in Awka, where he described the current pension structure as inadequate and unsustainable in the face of rising living costs.
According to the union, a civil servant who retired on Grade Level 16 in 2010 currently receives a monthly pension of ₦81,000, while an officer retiring on the same grade level in 2026 earns ₦159,839, creating what it described as a significant disparity among retirees.
Ugozor said the situation has left many pensioners unable to meet their basic needs, alleging that some retirees have died from hunger, sickness and other preventable conditions.
He argued that the ₦10,000 award approved by the Anambra State Government in October 2024 should not be regarded as pension harmonisation, insisting that Section 210(3) of the 1999 Constitution provides for periodic pension reviews whenever workers’ salaries are reviewed or at least every five years.
The union also demanded the payment of ₦490.1 million in outstanding pension arrears owed to some primary school pensioners, stating that the arrears relate to 11 months of unpaid pensions dating back to 2002 and 2003.
The NUP further alleged that pensioners of the Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS) were excluded from the ₦10,000 award introduced in 2024, noting that the unpaid benefit has accumulated to 22 months of arrears.
The union also called for the payment of about ₦150 million in gratuities owed to retired ABS workers, some of whom have reportedly been awaiting payment since 2017.
Ugozor urged the state government to review the minimum pension in line with the current ₦82,000 minimum wage and establish a sustainable mechanism for regular pension reviews.
He maintained that pensioners who devoted decades of service to the state deserve dignity in retirement and should not be left behind whenever workers’ salaries are reviewed.
