The Nigeria Union of Pensioners Contributory Pension Scheme Sector (NUPCPS) has reaffirmed its commitment to defending members’ rights and strengthening the contributory pension system as it marked its ninth anniversary in Abuja.
National Chairman Sylva Nwaiwu said the union had endured “nine years of intense struggle, opposition and attacks” before gaining recognition in 2017. He noted that CPS retirees once faced under‑funded budgets, arrears of up to 20 months, and long delays in accessing benefits.
Sustained engagement with the National Assembly, PenCom and other stakeholders, he said, has led to reforms: budgets now fully appropriated, accrued rights cleared, and retirees receiving benefits in the same month of retirement. Pension increases have also been extended to CPS retirees, including those who transitioned from the old Defined Benefit Scheme.
Nwaiwu stressed that freedom of association under Section 40 of the Constitution must be protected, warning against attempts to create parallel unions for CPS retirees. He appealed to the Labour Minister to safeguard members’ rights and resist any effort to sever NUPCPS from the Nigeria Union of Pensioners.
Senior Assistant General Secretary of NUP, Alhaji Ahmed Gazali, raised fresh concerns, noting that pensioners are yet to receive the ₦25,000 three‑month palliative package agreed in October 2023, even as workers have already benefited.
He urged President Bola Tinubu to direct authorities to pay pensioners without delay. Gazali also pressed for health insurance under PENCARE and free medical services for retirees, saying such measures would enhance the lives of senior citizens.
Both leaders commended the Federal Government and the PenCom Director‑General, Bridget Oloworaran, for the ongoing reforms, while calling on employers to comply with constitutional provisions on pension increases. They also praised the NUP leadership and the media for advancing retirees’ welfare.
