Pensioners Seek Inclusion in New N70,000 Transport Allowance, Demand Unpaid Relief
Retired workers under the Federal Parastatals and Private Sector Pensioners Association of Nigeria have called on the Federal Government to extend its newly approved N70,000 monthly transport allowance to pensioners, warning that rising transportation costs are placing additional pressure on their already limited incomes.
The association argued that retirement does not exempt people from daily transport expenses, noting that pensioners still travel to hospitals, markets and other places to meet essential needs. It said excluding them from the allowance would leave many retirees struggling to cope with the same economic pressures affecting serving public workers.
Beyond the proposed transport support, the pensioners raised concerns over the unpaid N25,000 monthly palliative announced by the Federal Government in October 2023 following the removal of the petrol subsidy. The initiative was initially designed to provide temporary financial relief for three months, with vulnerable pensioners identified among the intended beneficiaries. However, the association said eligible retirees were yet to receive the promised support.
The concerns were contained in a statement signed by the association’s President-General, Elder Benjamin Amako, and General Secretary, Franklin Erinle. They clarified that their appeal was not a challenge to the allowance granted to serving workers but a demand for equal consideration in government relief programmes.
The association urged President Bola Tinubu to direct relevant agencies to facilitate payment of the outstanding palliative and include pensioners in the new transport allowance arrangement. It maintained that retirees, many of whom depend on fixed monthly pensions to cover food, healthcare and other basic expenses, should not be overlooked in policies aimed at easing the country’s economic hardship.
