Pensioners in Imo and Abia States are calling for urgent reforms to the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) to enhance their quality of life and safeguard the future of current workers. Speaking with newsmen, retirees expressed frustration over what they described as their “endless struggles” with delayed payments and bureaucratic hurdles.
Mrs. Bisola Ogunlede, who retired from the National Population Commission in 2023, shared her concerns, noting that irregularities in the pension system have prevented her from receiving her payments. Ogunlede hopes that reforms will streamline the remittance process for retirees.
In Imo, retired teacher Mr. Udoka Achi highlighted a gap in the Pension Act, allowing Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) to delay payments. Achi is calling for amendments to the Act to ensure prompt disbursement of funds to pensioners.
Retiree Mr. Chidi Udoh also spoke about the challenges posed by monthly pension payments, which he feels limits retirees’ financial flexibility. Udoh suggested that lump-sum payments, even in installments, could allow pensioners to make meaningful investments.
In Abia, the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) urged the state government to adopt effective CPS implementation strategies. Union chairman Mr. Chukwunemeka Irondi noted that previous administrations had engaged different PFAs with limited success. He called on Governor Alex Otti’s administration to introduce more practical reforms to benefit pensioners.
Reflecting on past administrations, Irondi pointed out that former Governor Okezie Ikpeazu often paid only 20–35% of pensions monthly, which led to financial strain on retirees. He commended the current administration for restoring full payments but expressed concern that retirees with documentation issues are still left out.
Irondi also voiced alarm over unresolved gratuity payments, which haven’t been addressed since 2002. The union recently held a press conference disputing the government’s claim that pensioners had “written off” their gratuity, stressing that retirees are entitled to these payments.
Other pensioners echoed calls for improvement. Chief Dunlop Okoro, who has received his pension steadily since retiring in 1999, emphasized the importance of patriotism and accountability in leadership to uphold retirees’ rights. Similarly, Mrs. Goodness Nzeadibe urged the state to conduct thorough verification processes to accurately account for all pensioners and ensure equitable payments.
The retirees are unified in their call for reforms to create a fair, transparent pension system that supports financial security for retirees and ensures timely disbursement of funds, alleviating the hardships many now face.
