ABUJA, Nigeria (VOICE OF NAIJA)-The Benue State chapter of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners has given the state government a 14-day ultimatum to settle outstanding pension arrears and gratuities inherited from past administrations, warning that failure to do so will lead to a peaceful protest.
In a notification letter dated January 7 and addressed to the state governor, Hyacinth Alia, the union’s chairman and secretary, Michael Vembe and Saater Bur respectively, stated that the arrears include 96 months for local government pensioners and 42 months for state pensioners.
The letter, shared with journalists on Monday, said, “Our demands include the payment of pension arrears and gratuities inherited from past administrations, which comprise 96 months for local government pensioners and 42 months for state pensioners.
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“Out of the above-mentioned arrears, His Excellency directed that five months should be paid to all pensioners, but only state pensioners have so far been paid.
“We therefore demand that local government pensioners should also be paid the five months’ arrears already paid to state pensioners without delay.
“We further demand the harmonisation of pensions in Benue State in line with the directive of the Federal Government, which stipulates a minimum pension of N32,000 in accordance with the Minimum Wage Act, 2024.”
The union said fulfilling these demands would ease the hardship of pensioners in the state, some of whom currently receive as little as ₦2,000 monthly.
It also noted that some retired permanent secretaries receive as low as ₦7,000 per month, while recently retired colleagues earn over ₦300,000.
The union criticized the failure to harmonize pensions in the state to the N32,000 minimum, contrary to a circular letter with reference number NUP/NHQ/08B/VOL.V dated October 22, 2024, and the N70,000 Minimum Wage Act of 2024, which has already been implemented for active civil servants in the state.
The letter concluded, “In compliance with the resolution of the Benue State Council of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, it has become inevitable to state categorically that if, by January 21, 2026, our demands are not met, we shall have no option but to mobilise all pensioners across the 23 local government areas of the state to Makurdi for a two-day peaceful protest.”