November 24, (THEWILL) — The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Akwa Ibom State chapter, Pastor Sylvester Nkodo, has explained why some retirees received gratuity payments ahead of others, saying the State Government acted on humanitarian grounds to support critically ill and deceased retirees’ families.
Nkodo spoke amid protests by pensioners who alleged that their juniors in service had been paid before them.
He said the payment pattern was influenced by urgent cases, including retirees battling life-threatening illnesses and families struggling to bury deceased pensioners.
Such beneficiaries, he noted, were paid either fully or partially depending on the severity of their needs.
He added that next of kin often report these cases to the union or the government, prompting swift intervention.
“Where a retiree is critically sick, or the family of a deceased retiree cannot even afford burial costs, the government steps in,” Nkodo said, stressing that this accounted for perceived irregularities.
While acknowledging the concerns raised by protesting retirees, he urged them to consider the compassionate rationale behind the government’s decisions.
Nkodo reaffirmed the NUP’s support for Governor Umo Eno ahead of the 2027 political season, applauding what he described as unprecedented reforms in pension administration.
He highlighted that thousands of retirees who previously earned between ₦800 and ₦5,000 monthly now enjoy significantly higher payments due to the governor’s interventions.
He recalled that Governor Eno approved additional monthly payments of ₦20,000 and ₦15,000 for different pension categories last year, and later an extra ₦27,000 for all retirees following the rollout of the new ₦70,000 minimum wage.
These adjustments raised the minimum pension to ₦20,000, pushing many retirees’ earnings close to ₦50,000 monthly.
Nkodo described the release of ₦78 billion for clearing decades-long gratuity arrears as a major milestone.
Before the intervention, gratuities were owed up to 2016 for civil servants, 2013 for local government retirees and 2012 for primary school retirees.
Payments have now reached 2023 for civil service retirees, 2021/2022 for local government, and 2015 for primary school retirees.
He said the development brought relief to families who had waited years, many hoping to use their gratuities to stabilise their livelihoods.
Nkodo also commended the establishment of a health-insurance scheme for the elderly, enabling retirees to receive treatment at designated hospitals at no cost.
He said the governor has consistently released counterpart funds to sustain the programme, describing it as a significant milestone in elderly welfare.
He urged the governor to sustain the momentum, noting that simultaneous payment of all pension categories—unlike the previous staggered system—has restored confidence among retirees.
Nkodo said pensioners across the state remain committed to supporting Governor Eno, adding that the ongoing reforms have set a new benchmark in compassion, responsiveness and pension administration.
