Retired civil servants in Kaduna, Kano and Katsina states have decried the non-payment of their retirement benefits.
The retired workers said the situation was unbearable with the harsh economic situation of the country.
A survey conducted by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that civil servants who retired in March 2023 were yet to receive their accrued benefits.
In Kaduna State, Ahmad Kawure, a retired employee of the National Directorate of Employment (BDE), said he retired in October 2023 and has not received his benefits.
“My pension administration has not called me to explain the reasons for the delay, but we heard that the delay was due to the federal government’s failure to pay the National Pension Commission.
“PENCOM will now pay pension funds administrators before retirees can get their money,” he said.
Another retiree who pleaded anonymity said the government’s delay in paying the pensioners was regrettable.
He said people who served the country for 35 years should be treated with respect and dignity and be paid accordingly so that they won’t suffer after retirement.
Also, he urged the government to pay accrued benefits to PENCOM even before retirement so that issues like delayed payment would be addressed.
“Most civil servants retire without a home of their own, and they rely on the money they have been saving for years to buy a house or venture into business. Unfortunately, most of them are now poor, with no income and lots of family responsibilities. Some get sick and cannot afford medical care.
“Government should prioritise the issue of pensioners or retirees and ensure all payments are made on time; this would encourage civil servants in service to be honest and hardworking,“ he said.
In Kano State, some state and federal government retirees, as well as pensioners, also decried the late payment of their monthly pensions and retirement benefits.
