The Executive Secretary of the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), Tolulope Odunaiya, on Wednesday held an emergency meeting with the Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP) and the Federal Parastatals and Private Sector Pensioners Association of Nigeria (FEPPPAN) to address concerns over a planned protest by a faction of pensioners.
The meeting, attended by senior PTAD management, was convened to strengthen communication with recognised unions and safeguard the dignity and welfare of retirees under the Defined Benefit Scheme.
Odunaiya outlined the agency’s recent achievements, including the implementation of the ₦32,000 minimum wage pension increment, the 10.66% and 12.95% approved pension adjustments, and the securing of a ₦45 billion emergency budgetary allocation for payment of arrears. She also clarified that the much-discussed ₦25,000 palliative is a responsibility of the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, though PTAD is following up and will provide updates when available.
The Executive Secretary cautioned that the proposed protest particularly its planned “naked” demonstration could jeopardise ongoing efforts to improve pensioners’ welfare and distort the collaborative engagement already in place.
Leaders of NUP and FEPPPAN distanced their organisations from the planned protest, reaffirmed their commitment to peaceful dialogue and urging pensioners to channel complaints through approved structures. Odunaiya welcomed their stance and reiterated PTAD’s commitment to maintaining structured engagement, enhancing communication, and upholding the dignity of all pensioners.
