- Epe pensioners stage peaceful protest over delayed retirement benefits.
- Retirees under the NUP-CPS appeal to the Lagos State Government for urgent intervention.
- Pensioners seek transparency, clear communication and prompt payment of outstanding entitlements.
Pensioners under the Lagos State Epe Zone have staged a peaceful protest in Epe, raising concerns over the prolonged delay in the payment of their retirement benefits and appealing to the state government for urgent intervention.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the retirees, under the National Union of Pensioners Contributory Pension Scheme (NUP-CPS), marched through major areas of Epe to draw attention to their outstanding entitlements and the financial difficulties they said the delay had created.
The protesters expressed frustration over the continued wait for their benefits, stressing that they had fulfilled their obligations during their years of public service and deserved timely payment of their retirement entitlements.
They said the situation had made it increasingly difficult for many retirees to meet their basic needs and cope with rising living costs.
“We have served the government and fulfilled our obligations during our active years. We are only asking for what is legitimately due to us,” the protesters said.
The pensioners called on the Lagos State Government to review the outstanding payments and take immediate steps to ensure that all eligible retirees receive their benefits.
They also raised concerns over what they described as a disparity between pensioners under the Lagos State arrangement and their counterparts under the federal contributory pension scheme.
According to the protesters, pensioners under the federal arrangement have begun receiving their benefits while their counterparts under the Lagos State arrangement are still waiting for their entitlements.
They therefore called for clarification from the state authorities on the reason for the delay and urged the government to provide a clear timeline for the payment of the outstanding benefits.
“We want the government to tell us when our benefits will be paid. We deserve clear information and a definite resolution to this matter,” they said.
The retirees stressed that many of them have limited sources of income apart from their expected pension benefits, making timely payment essential to their welfare and dignity.
They also appealed for greater transparency in the management and disbursement of outstanding payments, urging relevant authorities to regularly communicate with affected pensioners.
The protesters called on Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s administration to treat the matter as an urgent welfare issue and engage representatives of the pensioners in finding a lasting solution.
They maintained that dialogue between the government and pensioners could help clarify outstanding issues, prevent further tension and restore confidence among affected retirees.
The pensioners further urged the state government to develop a predictable pension payment system that would enable retirees to plan their finances with greater certainty.
They expressed hope that the government would listen to their concerns and take concrete action towards releasing the outstanding benefits.
The demonstration has brought renewed attention to concerns surrounding delayed retirement payments under the state’s contributory pension arrangement, with the retirees insisting that their demands are for legitimate entitlements earned through years of service.
The pensioners appealed to the Lagos State Government and relevant pension authorities to act swiftly, provide accurate information on the status of their benefits and ensure that outstanding payments are settled without further delay.
