‘Pensioners Are Dying of Hunger’ — Anambra NUP Cries Out, Demands Pension Harmonisation

By Felix Oti, Awka

A pensioner who retired on Grade Level 16 in Anambra State in 2010 now earns just ₦81,000 monthly—only ₦1,000 less than the ₦82,000 minimum wage for a newly employed worker—despite having served the state for years.

The revelation has triggered fresh concerns over the welfare of retirees in Anambra State, with the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Anambra State Council, alleging that some pensioners are dying from hunger, sickness and preventable conditions because of inadequate pensions and unpaid entitlements.

The State Chairman of the union, Comrade Dr. Anthony C. Ugozor (JP), made the disclosure during a press conference in Awka on Thursday, where he called for an immediate harmonisation and review of pensions in line with existing constitutional provisions.

Ugozor said the disparity between the pensions of retirees from different years had become unacceptable, particularly as the cost of living continues to rise.

According to figures presented by the union, a Grade Level 16 officer retiring in 2026 earns ₦159,839 monthly, while a worker who retired on the same grade level in 2010 receives only ₦81,000.

The union argued that the situation has eroded the value of pensions earned by older retirees and created a widening gap between pensioners who held similar positions but retired at different times.

“Pensioners are dying of hunger, sickness and preventable death because their pensions are no longer sufficient to meet their basic needs,” Ugozor said.

He also rejected the ₦10,000 award approved by the Anambra State Government in October 2024 as a substitute for pension harmonisation.

According to him, the payment should not be described as pension harmonisation, stressing that Section 210(3) of the 1999 Constitution provides for the review of pensions every five years or whenever salaries are reviewed.

₦490.1m Primary School Pension Arrears

The NUP also demanded the payment of ₦490.1 million in outstanding pension arrears owed to some primary school pensioners.

The union said the arrears cover 11 months of unpaid pensions dating back to 2002/2003, adding that the verified payment ledger has reportedly been with the Joint Accounts Allocation Committee (JAAC) since November 2014.

Ugozor further disclosed that pensioners of the Anambra Broadcasting Service (ABS) were excluded from the ₦10,000 award introduced in 2024.

“It is important to note that the ₦10,000 award to pensioners in 2024 excluded pensioners of ABS from the payment. All efforts by both the ABS Pensioners Union and the NUP State Council to make the government pay this debt have been in vain,” he said.

He said the unpaid award had accumulated into 22 months of arrears, covering October 2024 to July 2026, for affected ABS pensioners.

ABS Pensioners Demand ₦150m Gratuities

The union also raised concerns over unpaid gratuities owed to retired staff of the Anambra Broadcasting Service.

According to Ugozor, ABS pensioners have been waiting for their gratuities since 2017, with the outstanding amount put at approximately ₦150 million.

He appealed to the state government to settle the outstanding obligations, arguing that doing so would significantly improve the welfare and dignity of retired workers.

“Every government inherits both assets and liabilities. If these outstanding entitlements and obligations are completely settled, all pensioners and their loved ones will have reason to celebrate and acknowledge the government’s intervention in pension welfare,” Ugozor said.

NUP Seeks Minimum Pension Review

The pensioners also revisited an earlier demand by organised labour for an upward review of the minimum pension in the state.

Ugozor recalled that, in his May 1, 2023 address, the NLC State Chairman had appealed to Governor Prof. Chukwuma Charles Soludo to increase the minimum pension to ₦30,000.

The NUP chairman argued that the economic situation has since changed considerably, and that the current minimum wage of ₦82,000 should be reflected in the pension structure.

He maintained that pensioners should not be left behind whenever workers’ salaries are reviewed.

The union also referred to a May 22, 2024 meeting between organised labour and the state government at Government House, Awka, where labour called for the suspension of further deductions under the contributory pension scheme pending the enactment of a legal framework by the Anambra State House of Assembly.

The NUP urged the state government to address the outstanding pension and gratuity obligations, harmonise pensions across retirement years, and establish a sustainable mechanism for regular pension reviews.

For the pensioners, the argument is straightforward: after decades of public service, retirement should not translate into poverty, hunger and uncertainty.