Retirees under the Federal Government’s pension scheme have issued a 21-day ultimatum over the unpaid N150,000 palliative allowance.
The pensioners, under the Coalition of Federal Pensioners of Nigeria, said they would stage a peaceful protest if the government fails to pay the outstanding allowance by September 10, 2026. The coalition made the demand in a letter dated August 21 and addressed to the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction. National Chairman Ogunbote Mukaila and National Secretary Gbadamosi Ganiyu signed the letter.
Pensioners demand six months’ payment
The retirees said the N150,000 represents six months of the N25,000 monthly palliative approved by the Federal Government in 2023. The government introduced the payment to cushion the effect of the petrol subsidy removal and the resulting economic hardship. However, the pensioners said workers had already received their corresponding payments while retirees were still waiting for theirs.
“We, the Nigerian pensioners, agreed to embark on a protest for the government’s refusal to pay our palliative, which all workers had received and also received additional palliative the Federal Government first paid,” the letter stated.
The coalition said the outstanding payment had become more important because of the rising cost of living.
“This payment is as a result of the biting effect of the harsh economic policies introduced by the government,” the pensioners said.
Retirees ask government to release funds
The pensioners also appealed to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction to resolve the matter and release the outstanding funds. They asked the ministry to work with the Pension Transitional Arrangements Directorate, which keeps records of pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme.
“Please release the money to the Pension Transitional Arrangements Directorate (PTAD), who have the record of all the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS) pensioners,” the retirees said.
The coalition also claimed that the ministry had previously received authorisation to make the payment. The pensioners linked the delay to developments surrounding former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu.
Edu was suspended by President Bola Tinubu in January 2024 following allegations of financial impropriety involving the ministry. The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission later investigated allegations concerning funds handled by the ministry. Despite the delay, the retirees said the current administration could still resolve the matter by directing the relevant agencies to process the payment.
“We are using this opportunity to plead with your ministry to pay the money,” they said.
Pensioners set September 10 deadline
The retirees said they had exhausted their patience over the unpaid allowance and were prepared to protest if the government failed to act. They gave the government 21 days from August 21 to settle the outstanding payment. The deadline will expire on September 10, 2026.
“The pensioners now agreed on a 21-day ultimatum for the payment of the palliative. Any refusal after these 21 days, we will embark on peaceful but loud protest,” they warned.
The coalition also appealed to the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction to ensure that the payment reaches the retirees before the deadline.
“We are old citizens and need finance to stay alive,” the pensioners said.
Dispute over N25,000 palliative continues
The latest ultimatum follows years of demands by pensioners for the payment of the N25,000 monthly palliative. The Federal Government approved the allowance in 2023 as part of measures to cushion the impact of the petrol subsidy removal. The initial approval covered three months, but pensioners later demanded an extension to six months.
The issue remained unresolved, leading to repeated demands from retirees for payment. In 2025, the Coalition of Federal Pensioners of Nigeria threatened nationwide protests over the unpaid palliative and pension increment arrears.
The House of Representatives also raised concerns about the non-payment of the approved benefits. It noted that withholding the payments was worsening the financial difficulties faced by retirees. Meanwhile, the Federal Government has continued efforts to clear outstanding pension liabilities.
In July 2026, the government announced the payment of N39.63 billion to 24,814 pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme. The payment was meant to settle various long-standing pension obligations.
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