South West Pensioners Appeal to Sanwo Olu Over N32,000 Wage Award
The South West leadership of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) has appealed to the Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo Olu, to approve the payment of the N32,000 wage award to pensioners in the state.
The pensioners, who include former workers of the Federal and Lagos State Governments, were reportedly excluded from benefiting from the wage award following a recent circular issued by the Lagos State Government and signed by the Head of Service, Bode Agoro.
In a communique issued at the end of their meeting in Lagos, the South West NUP leaders described the exclusion as unfair, stressing that the wage award was approved by the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission in August 2024.
The communique, read by the Public Relations Officer of the South West NUP Leaders Caucus, Dr. Olusegun Obatan, also urged the Lagos State Council of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to consider industrial action if the state government fails to address the issue.
The pensioners further criticised the state government over its alleged failure to implement pension increases arising from the 33 per cent adjustment to the 2010 minimum wage, the 2019 consequential adjustment and the 2024 minimum wage.
According to the communique, pension increases are guaranteed under Sections 210 and 173 of the 1999 Constitution, as amended, and are also covered under the Exclusive Legislative List.
The union argued that whenever workers’ salaries are increased, corresponding adjustments should be made to the pensions of retirees.
The South West NUP leaders also called on state governments to harmonise pension payments between old and new retirees, describing the disparity as unacceptable.
They noted that the pension of a Level 13 officer who retired in 1976 could not be compared with that of a Level 13 officer who retired in 2025, despite both having occupied the same grade level.
The pensioners also urged state governments to organise regular training programmes for personnel handling pension matters, saying this would reduce errors and prevent retirees from becoming victims of administrative ineptitude.
As the 2027 general elections approach, the South West NUP leaders cautioned their state counterparts against being used by politicians.
They urged NUP leaders to engage governorship candidates and obtain written commitments from them to fulfil promises made to pensioners if elected.
The meeting, which is held every two months, was attended by chairmen and secretaries of the NUP state councils in Oyo, Ogun, Ondo, Ekiti, Osun and Lagos states.
