The President of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Godwin Abumisi, has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu for what he described as unprecedented support for pensioners, saying no previous Nigerian leader has done as much for retirees.
Speaking during an interview on News at 10, following the Federal Government’s clearance of ₦39.6 billion in pension arrears under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS), Abumisi praised the administration for prioritising the welfare of elderly citizens.
“We are very happy with the present government. No president in Nigeria has achieved as much as His Excellency Bola Ahmed Tinubu. No other president has achieved as much as he has done,” he said.
The NUP president highlighted several interventions by the Tinubu administration, including the payment of pension arrears and increased funding for pension obligations.
According to him, the government paid ₦39.6 billion in arrears relating to the 10.6% pension increase, provided ₦758 billion to settle pension and gratuity liabilities under PENCOM, and released ₦58 billion for pension arrears under the Defined Benefit Scheme.
“He has paid 10.6% arrears of pension increase amounting to ₦39.6 billion. He also made available the sum of ₦758 billion for arrears of pension and gratuity for PENCOM. He provided the sum of ₦58 billion for the payment of arrears of pension of those on DBS, the Defined Benefit Scheme,” Abumisi stated.
He further described Tinubu as the most pensioner-friendly president in Nigeria’s history.
“No President has ever been kind to pensioners like Pres. Tinubu. He didn’t just pay our arrears (of ages), he also paid the 10% increase on our pensions,” he added.
Abumisi also commended the administration for ensuring regular pension payments since President Tinubu assumed office.
“This government is very much committed to the welfare of elderly citizens in Nigeria. Since he took over, Nigerian pensioners and elderly people have been paid their pensions regularly. We do not have any more problems as we usually do,” he said.
On behalf of pensioners across the country, the NUP president expressed appreciation to the President and appealed to retirees to support the current administration.
“We should be loyal to this government because no other government has done as much as he has done. We should make it possible for him to return back to his position by supporting his bid to come back,” Abumisi said.
