Life After Service:Northern Pensioners Fight for Survival

Many states in Northern Nigeria are still paying retirees pensions far below the federal government’s N32,000 minimum policy, leaving thousands of elderly citizens struggling for survival after years of service.

Several pensioners from the region, who spoke to Daily Trust, said they receive as little as N2, 000 or N3, 000 monthly, despite the rising cost of living.

They lamented that such meagre amounts can barely cover their daily food expenses, let alone the cost of medication, further worsening their health conditions.

They said their hardship is compounded by prolonged delays in the payment of gratuities, with some waiting many years after retirement without receiving their entitlements.

On the other hand, experts who spoke to newsmen on the poor handling of pensioners said it is a recipe for corruption because civil servants will use unconventional ways to enrich themselves to secure their future ahead of retirement.

They also called on northern governors to look inward and address the anomaly.

Our correspondents, who visited pension offices in different states, observed dozens of retirees —many of whom were old, frail, and visibly distressed —still struggling to claim their gratuities despite having completed all the required documentation.

The pensioners expressed frustration that, despite staging several protests across states to draw government attention to their plight, little has been done to alleviate their suffering.

A few days ago, the pensioners’ union in the North disclosed that, nearly a year after the federal government approved the N32, 000 minimum pension, only four of the 19 states in the region have implemented it.

Last year, the federal government announced a N32, 000 increase in the monthly pensions of retirees, following consequential adjustments to salary structures by a committee set up to review the new minimum wage.

The National Salaries, Wages and Income Commission (NSIWC) confirmed the increase in a memo dated September 27, 2024, signed by its Chairman, Ekpo Nta.

This adjustment followed President Bola Tinubu’s signing of the National Minimum Wage (Amendment) Act 2024 into law on July 29, 2024, which raised the national minimum wage for workers to N70,000 per month after negotiations with the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC).

In many northern states, findings by Daily Trust showed that the lowest-paid retirees still receive between N2,000 and N5,000 monthly, far below the federal government’s approved minimum pension.

Taraba

Abubakar Iliyasu Jen, who spoke on behalf of the Concerned Pensioners’ Union in Taraba, said retirees earn between N4,000 and N12,000 monthly.

He said Governor Agbu Kefas had promised to implement a N32,000 minimum pension but had yet to fulfil the pledge.

“Since the creation of Taraba State 30 years ago, there has been no pension increment, and some of us have yet to receive our gratuity,” Jen said.

Taraba State Head of Service, Dr. Ahmed Kara, could not be reached for comment as his phone was switched off. However, a staff member in his office, who requested anonymity, told Daily Trust that a memo seeking approval for the implementation of the new pension scheme was before Governor Agbu Kefas and awaiting his approval.

Borno

The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) in Borno, Comrade Musa Alhaji Bukar, said retirees are still receiving payments based on the old scale.

“To be fair to the governor, he formed a committee to implement the new increment. The verification and data capturing have been completed, and we are now waiting for the governor to fulfil his promise.

“I was part of the verification process, and the report has been submitted to the Head of Service for onward transmission to the governor. My appeal is for the governor to hasten the implementation to reduce the suffering of our members. We are in very difficult conditions,” Bukar said.

Another member, Sani Mahmud, lamented that some retirees still receive as little as N4,000 monthly.

“We have not received any increment since the era of Ali Modu Sheriff. Some of us collect as little as N2,000 as a minimum pension, which cannot even cover transport to the bank, let alone food and other needs,” he said.

Mahmud, however, thanked the governor for setting aside N200 million monthly to clear outstanding gratuities and appealed for the swift implementation of the N32,000 minimum pension.

Bauchi

The state Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Abdullahi Alhassan Misau, confirmed that Bauchi State has yet to implement the pension increment.

“Arrangements are about 90% complete, and we expect implementation soon,” he said.

Misau noted that the current pension rate in Bauchi is N12,500, which, compared to some states paying as little as N3,000 or N4,000, is relatively higher for local government pensioners.

Yobe

The Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP) in Yobe State has confirmed that the state government is paying a minimum monthly pension of N32,000 to retirees, in line with the federal government’s directive.

“All I can tell you is that Yobe is the first state to implement the N32,000 minimum monthly pension for retirees following the directive of the federal government. No pensioner in Yobe State receives less than N32,000,” state chairman of the union, Comrade Ibrahim Isa Goki, told Daily Trust.

He added that the National Headquarters of the NUP issued a letter of commendation to Governor Mai Mala Buni for the gesture, which the state council formally presented to him.

Adamawa

The Chairman of the Adamawa State Local Government Pension Board, Dr. Nuhu Teri, said the federal government’s minimum pension policy has not yet been implemented in the state.

Speaking to Daily Trust, Dr. Teri explained that there is a clear distinction between federal and state pension policies, noting that a federal directive does not automatically apply at the state level.

“The minimum pension is a policy by the federal government and is yet to be domesticated in the state. The state government has to adopt and domesticate it before it can be effective here,” he said.

He urged the public to understand the procedural differences between the two systems.

Benue

In Benue State, pensioners decried the government’s failure to adopt the N32,000 minimum pension, with some retirees still earning as little as N2,000 monthly.

The Chairman of the Benue State Civil Pensioners, Akoosu Alexi Orban, alleged that Governor Hyacinth Alia had failed to fulfil his campaign promise to clear 45 months’ outstanding allowances within his first 100 days in office.

“Some of us still collect less than N2, 000 or N3,000 monthly. A permanent secretary who retires today gets N600, 000, while one who retired 10 years ago receives N20,000. Even some on Grade Level 5 now earn more than former top officials,” he lamented.

Media Officer of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Comrade Nick Abeh, confirmed there had been no increment in Benue pensions, with the worst affected being retirees from as far back as 1999.

He urged the government to speed up reforms and gradually offset the over N130 billion owed in pensions and gratuities.

Niger

Stephen Daniel Zitta, Chairman of the Niger Retirees Pressure Group, said that some pensioners still received N4,000 monthly for the past 20 years.

He said despite repeated efforts, they have been unable to meet with Governor Mohammed Umaru Bago to address the issue.

Victor Gimba Chinda, who retired in 2018, said he receives N21,810 monthly instead of the N38,000 he believes he is entitled to.

“We are only surviving by the grace of God. Many of us are sick and can no longer do tedious work,” he said.

Kogi

Pensioners in Kogi State have yet to receive the federal government-approved N32,000 minimum monthly pension but confirmed that only a N10,000 across-the-board increment has been implemented.

They noted that despite the increment, some retirees still earn below the stipulated minimum. Samuel Jimoh, a retired director in the Kogi State civil service, said:

He said, “I retired as a director in the state civil service, yet my monthly pension is not up to N40,000. Some who retired earlier receive even less. To my knowledge, we have not started receiving the N32,000 minimum pension approved by the federal government.

“However, I can confirm that the N10,000 increase approved by the state government has been implemented across the board.”

Officials at the State Pension Board declined to comment on the matter, while the state chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) also refused to speak.

Kwara

In Kwara State, some retirees who left service over 20 years ago receive as little as N3,000 monthly, although recent consequential adjustments have raised some payments to between N15,000 and N20,000.

NUP State Chairman, Comrade Saidu Oladimeji, confirmed that the federal directive has yet to be implemented and said there was no indication of when it might be.

Acting Executive Secretary of the State Pension Board, Zubair Onireke, declined to give verbal responses and requested a formal written inquiry.

Plateau

Comrade Lucky Oyinbo, Secretary of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners – All Sectors Unit, North Central, said meagre pension payments are a widespread reality across the states.

He said no category of Plateau State pensioners currently receives below N10,000, but still below the N32,000 minimum payment.

According to him, the most affected are local government pensioners, some of whom receive less than N3,000 monthly.

“Worse still, these payments are irregular, with delays stretching to three or four months,” he said.

He attributed the problem partly to governors who fail to fulfill promises, and partly to pension union leadership, which he said is sometimes too aged or inactive to push for members’ welfare.

Oyinbo urged governors to adhere to circulars from the Wages and Salaries Commission, saying he had shared copies with some of them.

He revealed that he recently met with the governors of Kano and Niger States, who promised to improve pensioners’ welfare.

Kano

The Acting Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners in Kano State, Comrade Shuaibu Musa Jibrin, said the lowest pension paid in the state is N20,000.

He said that while the situation is relatively better in Kano when compared to other states, the major problem in the unpaid gratuity, as many retirees are yet to get their entitlements.

In July this year, the state government settled N22 billion out of N48 billion in unpaid gratuities and death benefits owed to pensioners.

When contacted for clarification on the minimum pension, the Director of Public Enlightenment at the Pension Board, Musa Garba, asked our reporter to wait for the board’s chairman, who was unavailable for comment.

Garba said he could not speak on the chairman’s behalf. Similarly, the Commissioner for Information did not respond to phone calls seeking the state government’s position on why it has not complied with the federal government’s N32,000 minimum pension directive.

Kano State enacted its Pension and Gratuity Law in 2006 to implement the Contributory Defined Benefits Scheme (CDBS), in line with the national pension scheme.

The law assigns the administration and custody of pension funds and assets to the Kano State Pension Fund Trustees.

Jigawa

The minimum monthly pension in Jigawa State is N12,000, as confirmed by retirees and state officials.

Pensioners in the state have lamented the delay in implementing the N32,000 national minimum pension.

One retiree, who requested anonymity, said he still receives N12,000 monthly despite retiring in 2015. He lamented that the amount cannot sustain his family for more than a week.

Another pensioner, a former state civil servant, said life has been very difficult in the current era of inflation, with his pension fluctuating between N15,000 and N17,000. He said the money cannot take care of food let alone other issues.

The Public Relations Officer of the Pension House, Ismail Muhammad Dutse, said the state government has set up a committee to review pensions and develop a policy to increase payments to retirees.

He confirmed that Jigawa’s minimum pension remains N12,000 and attributed the delay in adopting the N32,000 rate to the committee’s ongoing work.

He assured that the review would soon be completed, and the recommendations submitted to the State Executive Council for approval, urging pensioners to be patient as “they will soon smile.”

Kaduna

The Secretary of the Pensioners’ Union in Kaduna and the 19 northern states, Alkasim Balarabe Musa, confirmed that the state currently pays N30,000 as the minimum monthly pension.

He said discussions are ongoing to raise the amount to N32,000, with the state government promising to surpass that figure.

Musa, however, lamented that many pensioners in several northern states still receive as little as N2,000 to N5,000 monthly after serving the nation diligently for 35 years.

He said senior citizens are struggling to survive on such stipends, and there is a glaring disparity between the pensions of retirees and the benefits enjoyed by politicians.

He noted that the union intends to pursue its demands through peaceful means.

Kebbi

In Kebbi State, many retirees in the local government category earn below the federal government’s prescribed N32,000 minimum pension, according to findings from the state pension office and retirees.

A state civil service retiree, Hassan Mustapha, said retired civil servants earn between N25,000 and N30,000 and above, depending on their grade.

However, those in the local government service on Levels 03, 04, and 05 earn as little as N10,000, N11,500, and N12,000, respectively.

A member of the State Executive of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners added that state-level retirees on Levels 06 to 10 earn between N25,000 and N35,000, while directors who retired on Level 16 receive N120,000 or more monthly.

A senior government official at the Cabinet Office in Birnin Kebbi said the issue of low pensions is receiving attention from the state government.

“The government is not unaware of what retirees earn in the state. What the present administration inherited in terms of monthly pension payments dates back to 2006, but Governor Idris is reviewing it with a view to making the necessary adjustments,” the official stated.

Our plight — Pensioners

Many retirees in Northern Nigeria said life has become difficult amid inflation and rising living costs, as their monthly pensions can barely cover food expenses.

They urged the government to pay gratuities and implement the new pension rate.

In Taraba, John Edward, a former local government worker who retired 13 years ago, said he is still awaiting his gratuity.

“Life has been very difficult for many of us. We are now aged, and the amount can’t even pay for medication, let alone food,” he said.

Another Taraba pensioner, Bello Adamu, retired from the State College of Education, Jalingo, in 2012 after 35 years of service, but still earns N12,500 a month and has not been paid gratuity.

“With the current inflation, N12,500 is grossly inadequate. We are appealing to the governor to implement the new increment,” he said.

In Kano, a retiree, Adamu Muhammad said his pension cannot sustain his family for even two days.

A Bauchi pensioner, Danjuma Maikano, who retired in 2005, said his N20,000 cannot buy enough food, let alone meet other needs.

Kumbur Tyolumun said many retirees live in “abject hardship” due to the government’s failure to harmonise pensions, with some receiving as little as N2,000 monthly. Victor Gimba Chinda, who retired in 2018, said he has not received his gratuity.

“We survive by God’s grace. My wife helps, but I am struggling to pay my son’s university fees. Many of us are sick and unable to do hard work,” he said.

In Plateau, Comrade Gunshin Yarlings said many pensioners cannot afford two meals a day or basic family needs.

“No increment has been added to our pensions. Many have died due to hardship. Those alive can barely feed themselves, pay school fees, or afford clothes. It is pathetic,” he said.

Another Plateau retiree, Raymond Dasat, stressed that many pensioners die because they cannot afford healthcare.

“Regardless of grade or position, most pensioners suffer. As senior citizens, we should be living restfully after decades of service, not enduring this level of hardship,” he said.

We’ll sustain push for complete compliance – Pensioners’ union

The Northern Forum of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP) has pledged to continue pressing states to comply with the N32,000 minimum pension, opting for dialogue over confrontation.

Speaking at the forum’s zonal meeting in Kaduna State, NUP Chairman, Comrade Mohammed Sali, revealed that only four of the 19 northern states have so far complied with the federal government’s directive. He described the situation as “deeply unfair” to elderly citizens who had devoted decades of service to the nation.

“Only four states are now paying the N32,000 minimum out of 19. Many states are still paying as little as N3,000, N4,000, or N5,000, which is completely unacceptable,” Sali said.

He stressed that the forum would avoid confrontational tactics, adding, “We are not confronting any state. Confrontation is beyond our age. We are your fathers; do you want to see your fathers running from tear gas? We will go from one state to another, engaging in dialogue.”

Sali disclosed that Adamawa State is close to implementing the N32,000 minimum pension, as a technical committee has completed its work and is awaiting the governor’s approval.

The forum’s Secretary, Alhassan Balarabe Musa, condemned the stark disparity between the pensions of retirees and the benefits enjoyed by politicians. “If a politician, after just four or eight years, receives huge benefits, what about a pensioner who served for 35 years or more? Some states like Taraba pay N3,000, Katsina N5,000, and Zamfara the same. It is very unfortunate,” he lamented.

He noted that Kaduna State remains the only state in the North West paying N30,000 but urged Governor Uba Sani to raise it to N32,000 in line with the federal directive.

The forum reaffirmed its commitment to sustained consultations until all states in the region meet the N32, 000 minimum pension benchmark.

Poor pension breeds corruption – Economists

Speaking on the issue, renowned economist, Dr. Marcel Okeke said the implication of low pension payments is why more Nigerians are falling into poverty.

“The low pension payment is part of the social disorder in the country and the implication is that many Nigerians will keep falling into poverty line.

“In 2023, even the N30, 000 minimum wage when inflation was not bad couldn’t serve basic purposes let alone in 2025. The N70, 000 minimum wage being paid now is less that N30, 000 two years ago because of inflation and the implication is that people will do anything to survive including crime and other social vices.”

An economist, Dr Sunusi Isah described the plight of Nigerian pensioners receiving as little as N4, 000 monthly as a “classic case of income inadequacy, inflation erosion, and policy failure,” warning that the situation carries deep social and macroeconomic consequences.

According to the him, N4, 000 per month amounts to about N133 per day which is far below the international extreme poverty line of $2.15 per day and about N3,400 at current exchange rates. This means the affected pensioners are living on less than four per cent of the income needed to meet basic food, shelter, and healthcare needs in urban Nigeria.

“With inflation above 30 per cent, the real value of N4,000 today is equivalent to N1,000 or less a decade ago. This pension is more symbolic than functional,” he said.

He noted that most of these pensioners survive through family support, petty trading, and community or religious charity. Others resort to skipping essential needs, including protein-rich meals or medical check-ups, while some rely on informal credit from neighbours and shop owners.

“These coping strategies keep them alive but often at the cost of deteriorating health and chronic undernourishment,” he added.

“If pensions remain unlivable, it undermines public trust in government service and retirement savings schemes,” he pointed out.

On his part, Dr Isa Abdullahi of the Department of Economics and Development Studies, Federal University Kashere, Gombe State, said poor pension for retirees is a bad signal to active civil servants who will go to the extent of stealing public funds to save for the future.

He said there is correlation between an uncertain future and the propensity of civil servants to circumvent the rule.

“It is something very, very bad to hear. This kind of a situation makes civil servants to continue to loot money if they can have the opportunity.

“And considering that state government are getting more money now after the removal of fuel subsidy, they should take the plight of pensioners and the elderly people seriously.

“The senior citizens of the country who did very well in serving the country, who spent almost the whole of their lives to serve the country should not be allowed to die in penury,” he said.

Daily Trust