Pensioners of the defunct Nigerian Telecommunications Limited and its mobile subsidiary, MTEL, staged a peaceful protest on Tuesday at the Federal Ministry of Finance in Abuja, demanding the payment of their long-outstanding entitlements. The elderly retirees, many already frail, sat on the ground at the entrance of the ministry, saying they had been pushed to the limit by years of neglect.
The protest was organised to draw attention to what the pensioners described as prolonged government silence on their demands. According to the group’s coordinator, Okey Ifepe, the demonstration became inevitable after repeated letters, meetings, and appeals failed to produce any concrete action. He said the pensioners are owed 35 months of pension arrears, while they have also been excluded from the recently approved ₦32,000 pension increase meant for workers under the Defined Benefits Scheme.
Ifepe told journalists that NITEL–MTEL pensioners have suffered more than any other group under the scheme, noting that all other defunct agencies such as New Nigerian Newspapers, NICON Insurance, Nigeria Reinsurance, Delta Steel and the Nigerian National Shipping Line had been settled. He said it was unfair that only NITEL–MTEL pensioners remain unpaid, despite serving the country for decades.
He explained that the retirees are no longer demanding favours but simply asking for what they are legally entitled to. According to him, some pensioners now survive on as little as ₦14,500, ₦16,000 or ₦17,000 monthly, which he described as inhumane given the current economic realities. He said the government should not single out one group for hardship when President Bola Tinubu approved the ₦32,000 increase as a humanitarian relief for all pensioners under the scheme.
Beyond the 35 months of arrears and the withheld pension increase, Ifepe said the pensioners are also demanding the balance of the 12.95 per cent pension increase approved in 2020, the outstanding arrears of the 10.66 per cent adjustment approved in 2015, and the ₦25,000 palliative earlier promised to all DBS pensioners. He added that several next-of-kin are still waiting for verified death benefits, while some verified pensioners have been left off the payroll since 2018 despite completing all required documentation.
He appealed to the Federal Government to harmonise the actions of the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate, the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission, the Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation and the Ministry of Finance to ensure that pensioners are no longer given conflicting explanations from different agencies. According to him, the lack of coordination among the agencies has contributed to the long delays and unnecessary confusion.
The protest by the NITEL–MTEL pensioners came barely 24 hours after another group of Nigerians — parents of students studying abroad under government scholarship — also blocked the entrance of the Ministry of Finance. Those parents were demanding payment of their children’s outstanding allowances, saying many of the students were stranded in their host countries. Observers say the back-to-back protests reflect growing frustration among citizens who feel that government agencies have been slow in handling financial obligations.
Many of the protesting pensioners in Abuja carried placards with messages calling for justice, payment of arrears and dignity for senior citizens. Some said they had been visiting the Ministry of Finance for years without receiving any concrete communication about when their benefits would be paid. Others recounted painful stories of colleagues who died without receiving their entitlements.
Several retirees said they were disappointed that an institution they served for most of their lives has left them to struggle in old age. Some described the protest as their last resort, saying that many of them were already battling health issues and could not continue facing financial hardship. They urged the government to act quickly before more retirees pass away without getting what is due to them.
While ministry officials did not immediately address the group, the pensioners insisted they would continue their advocacy until the Federal Government makes a firm commitment to address their concerns. They said the issue is not only about unpaid money but also about respect for workers who contributed to the country’s development.
Analysts say the situation highlights the need for stronger reforms in the management of legacy pension liabilities. They argue that timely payment of entitlements is essential for restoring trust in public institutions, especially among elderly citizens who rely heavily on pensions for survival.
The NITEL–MTEL retirees urged President Tinubu to personally intervene in the matter, saying his administration has repeatedly stated its commitment to protecting vulnerable citizens. According to them, clearing the backlog and implementing the approved increases would bring relief to thousands of families.
