In a resounding call for justice and long-overdue compensation, retirees of the Federal Radio Corporation of Nigeria (FRCN) took to the streets of Ibadan, Oyo State on Wednesday, protesting the federal government’s failure to fulfill promises of minimum wage adjustments and palliative disbursements. The peaceful demonstration, which drew dozens of pensioners, underscored the ongoing hardship faced by retired media workers in Nigeria who continue to be sidelined in national fiscal policies.
Gathering at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) secretariat in Iyaganku, the pensioners bore placards with poignant messages including “Our Sick Pensioners Need Money, Please Pay Our N32,000 Arrears,” and “Enough of Audio Promises, Pay All Our Entitlements Now.” Their demands were clear: immediate implementation of the new pension minimum wage, disbursement of federal palliatives, and a halt to unauthorized deductions from their monthly pensions.
The protest was led by Mr. Sola Ogunmola, chairman of the FRCN Pensioners Association. In a press briefing during the protest, Ogunmola lambasted the federal government. He criticized relevant agencies for what he described as “deliberate neglect” of media retirees. He emphasized that while pensioners from other government ministries have begun receiving the newly adjusted minimum wage. However, FRCN pensioners have been completely excluded.
“It’s been nearly two years since President Bola Tinubu announced palliatives for vulnerable citizens, including pensioners, yet not a single Kobo has reached us under either the Defined Benefit Scheme or the Contributory Pension Scheme,” Ogunmola declared.
He referenced the N25,000 palliative payment promised to retirees in 2023, which remains unpaid. Even more alarming, the newly approved N32,000 monthly addition to pensioners’ earnings based on the proposed N72,000 national minimum wage has not been implemented. It was supposed to be effective from July 2024. However, it has not been applied to FRCN retirees.
Many pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS) are waiting for the full eight-month arrears of the 20% pension increase. This increase was approved in January 2024. This delay has left retirees struggling to meet basic needs such as food. They also struggle with rent and healthcare.
“The cost of living has more than doubled in the past year. Inflation is crushing our members, many of whom are elderly, sick, and financially stranded,” he said.
He also drew attention to the plight of Nigerian pensioners living abroad. They have been unjustly removed from payrolls. This is due to challenges with the mandatory “I Am Alive” verification exercise. “PTAD [Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate] has not provided any platform for our members overseas to verify their existence. As a result, many have been cut off without due process,” he added.
‘We Can’t Afford Medication’ – Pensioners Cry Out
Several protesting pensioners who spoke with our correspondent shared deeply emotional stories of hardship and neglect. Mr. Samuel Adebanjo, a 74-year-old retiree from Radio Nigeria Enugu, revealed he has been battling hypertension and diabetes but can no longer afford his medication.
“I spent over three decades in service to this country. Today, I cannot buy insulin. My children are jobless and I’m now their burden. This is not the retirement we were promised,” he lamented.
Another protester, Mrs. Grace Agbo, criticized what she described as “audio palliatives” from the government. “They keep announcing funds and interventions for retirees, yet none of it reaches us. We are treated as if we do not exist,” she said.
The protest has reignited nationwide concerns over the management of pension systems in Nigeria, particularly the disparity between different public service sectors. The pensioners are urging the federal government to address:
Immediate release of the N25,000 palliative for pensioners.
Full implementation of the new N72,000 minimum wage and corresponding pension adjustment.
Payment of all outstanding arrears, including the 20% increment from January 2024.
An end to unexplained pension deductions.
Transparent digital solutions for pensioner verification, especially for those in the diaspora.
In response, the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate has yet to issue a formal statement, and the Ministry of Labour and Employment remains silent on the grievances raised.
Policy analysts warn that continued neglect of pensioners undermines public trust and devalues national service. Dr. Tunde Olabode, a social welfare analyst, told our correspondent that the government’s delay in fulfilling pension obligations reflects a systemic failure.
“Pensioners are not asking for luxuries. They’re demanding what is legally and morally owed to them. Continued inaction erodes the credibility of the nation’s pension system and could discourage future generations from public service,” Olabode said.
The plight of the FRCN pensioners is emblematic of a broader crisis in Nigeria’s pension management. With soaring inflation and a weakening naira, retirees are among the most vulnerable populations, yet their welfare remains at the bottom of the government’s priority list. As protests grow louder, stakeholders and civil society groups are calling on President Tinubu’s administration to act swiftly, ensuring justice and dignity for Nigeria’s aging workforce.