Pensioners want FG to create Ministry of Pension and Senior Citizens Affairs, here is why.

Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP) used the 18th edition of Pensioners Day celebration on Wednesday, to demand urgent creation of a full-fledged Ministry of Pension and Senior Citizens Affairs in line with the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.

In his address during the event organised at the Labour House, Abuja, President of NUP, Dr Comd. Abel Afolayan said the creation of this ministry will solve most of the problems that pensioners are facing in the country.

He said: “The union will very much appreciate it if the Buhari-led administration whose mantra of change has been globally acknowledged can approve the creation of a full-fledged Ministry of Pension and Senior Citizens Affairs in line with or like the Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development.”

“The ministry, if created will cater adequately for the welfare of pensioners, old people and senior citizens throughout Nigeria as it is practised in developed countries of the world. Closely related to this request is the retention and strengthening of the National Pension Commission (PenCom) and Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD).”

The NUP President also called on President Muhammadu Buhari, to ensure that the federal government revert to its regular payment of 5% counterpart fund into the local government fund which started as prescribed by the government but stopped sometimes ago without any just whatsoever.

He said the stoppage of the payment has adversely affected regular payment of monthly pension to local government pensioners and primary school pensioners who are being paid from the fund.