In Nigeria, the Federal Government on Wednesday released N54 billion ($171.7 million) to pay part of the pension rights accumulated in 2014, 2015 and 2016.

“Despite conflicting demands for available cash, President Muhammadu Buhari has always expressed concern over the plight of workers and pensioners. Consistent with this, we have released N54 billion which clears the arrears inherited from the previous administration relating to the period 2013-15 and underpayments in 2016,” said Salisu Danbatta, the Director of Information at the Ministry of Finance.

According to him, this will bring relief to thousands of people who have served the country and deserve to be paid their entitlements promptly and fully.

In order to avoid further accumulation of pension arrears, he added that from now on monthly allocations to the National Pension Commission (PENCOM) will frequently be paid together with monthly salaries of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs).

Some members of the League of Federal Service Contributory Pension Retirees recently staged a protest at the Federal Ministry of Finance’s headquarters in Abuja over N200 billion ($636million) worth of unpaid pension.

Anita Fatunji