Federal Pensioners Demand Payment of 21-Month Gratuity Arrears and Pension Increments
Federal pensioners under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) have appealed to the Coordinating Minister of Finance and National Economy, Wale Edun, urging the government to release their accrued gratuities and other outstanding entitlements.
In a letter to the minister, the pensioners requested the immediate payment of 21 months of accrued rights owed to retired public workers from March 2023 to November 2024. The appeal follows a peaceful rally held at the Ministry of Finance on November 12, 2024, during which they commended the minister for his “mature and civilised” approach to their grievances but lamented that their demands remain unmet.
The pensioners are also seeking the payment of longstanding pension increases, including a 15% adjustment in 2007, a 33% adjustment in 2010, and a 20–28% increase in 2024. Additionally, they demand the implementation of the 2019 consequential pension adjustment tied to the national minimum wage increase.
The pensioners have called on the Federal Government to declare a state of emergency in the CPS sector and to settle all outstanding liabilities before December 16, 2024.
In a statement, the leadership of the pensioners’ union expressed their resolve to escalate the situation if their demands are not addressed.
“From 12 pm on December 16, 2024, all CPS retirees nationwide will make the Federal Ministry of Finance and the Office of the Accountant General of the Federation in Abuja their homes until the government resolves our demands,” the statement read.
Their primary demands include:
• Immediate payment of 21 months of accrued rights from March 2023 to November 2024.
• Payment of unpaid pension increases:
• 15% adjustment from 2007.
• 33% adjustment from 2010.
• 20–28% adjustment from 2024.
• Implementation of the 2019 consequential pension adjustment linked to the minimum wage increase.
The union emphasized that its members are united nationwide and will not relent until their entitlements are fully addressed.
