The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) says old pensioners will get the six months arrears of 33 per cent pension increment the Federal Government (FG) is owing them from Monday.
Mr Actor Zal, the NUP General Secretary, said in a statement on Wednesday in Abuja that this was based on assurances received from the Pension Transitional Administrative Directorate (PTAD).
“PTAD’s Executive Secretary, Mrs Sharon Ikeazor, has assured that the old retirees will be receiving their payment alerts as from Monday,’’ he said in the statement issued after a consultative meeting between Ikeazor and the NUP President, Dr Abel Afolayan, in Abuja.
The NUP had on Oct. 23 given a 21-day ultimatum to the FG to pay arrears of pensions owed the retirees and increase the payment in line with the impending review of the minimum wage.
It would be recalled that the union had served the notice on PTAD on Oct. 23 in compliance with the extant labour laws.
The union had warned that if the arrears were not cleared, the pensioners would embark on a protest to picket PTAD and other relevant offices connected with the payment.
It had said further that the Federal Government must take pensioners into consideration while increasing Nigerian workers’ wages.
The statement said the PTAD Executive Secretary assured that the arrears owed both the civilian retirees and other pensioners would be paid accordingly.
“The six-month arrears to be paid is a total sum of N6.6 billion. PTAD will offset the remaining balance of six months immediately funds are made available to the agency,’’ it added.(NAN)