The pension crisis in Nigeria has taken a devastating toll on retirees in Kaduna, Kano, and Katsina states, who are now facing extreme financial hardship due to the non-payment of their retirement benefits. Frustrated pensioners have decried the delays in receiving their pensions and accused the government of abandoning them at their most vulnerable stage in life.
Civil servants who retired as far back as March 2023 have yet to receive their accrued benefits, leaving many in dire straits. Ahmad Kawure, a former employee of the National Directorate of Employment (BDE), who retired in October 2023, revealed he has not received a single payment since leaving service.
“My pension administrators haven’t even contacted me to explain the delay,” Kawure said. He attributed the problem to the federal government’s failure to pay the National Pension Commission (PENCOM), which oversees the disbursement of pensions through administrators.
“We served the country for 35 years, and now we are left to suffer without dignity. Many retirees don’t have homes, savings, or enough money for basic needs. Some are falling sick without access to medical care.”
He urged the government to pay accrued benefits before workers retire to prevent unnecessary suffering and restore trust in the system.
In Kano State, both state and federal government retirees are also reeling from unpaid monthly pensions. Despite fulfilling all the required documentation, Baba Isa, a frustrated retiree, complained about his pension fund administrator's silence:
“I submitted all the documents they requested, yet I’ve heard nothing. My savings are running out, and I don’t know how long I can survive without income.”
Another pensioner, Adamu Aminu, who served for 35 years, revealed that the delay has left him unable to buy essential medications for his illness.
“I just want my pension. It’s been a year since I retired, and I haven’t received a single naira,” he said, appealing to the pension administrators for immediate action.
In Katsina, the situation is equally dire. The Coalition of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) described the federal government’s pension scheme as a systemic exploitation of workers.
“The administrators profit from workers' contributions throughout their careers and still delay their payouts after retirement,” said Abdulrahman Abdullahi, the coalition chairman.
“Workers should be taught investment skills before retirement so they can use their gratuities as seed capital. By 60, workers are mature enough to manage their money—not be at the mercy of exploitative pension administrators.”
He lamented that many retirees wait 6 to 12 months for their first pension payment, leaving them in financial limbo.
The crisis is compounded by the current economic hardships plaguing the country. Pensioners say they are struggling to cope with fuel price hikes, hyperinflation, and skyrocketing commodity prices. Many have urged President Bola Tinubu to intervene, demanding that pension payments reflect increases in the national minimum wage.
“We started receiving pensions 15 months after retirement. With the high cost of living, these delays make life unbearable.”
Pensioners are calling on the government to prioritize payments to prevent further suffering. The system, introduced during Olusegun Obasanjo’s administration to address pension delays, is now seen as a failed promise, with retirees accusing the government of abandoning them.
