Edo NEPA, PHCN Retirees Protest, Demand N350bn Unpaid Pensions and Gratuities

Retirees of the defunct National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) and Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) in Edo State have called on the Federal Government to facilitate the payment of over N350 billion in outstanding pension and gratuity arrears.

The pensioners staged a peaceful protest in Benin City on Friday, expressing frustration over what they described as decades of unpaid entitlements. They said many retirees were facing severe financial hardship, while others had died waiting for their benefits.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Alile Osakioduwa said the outstanding payments include pension harmonisation, monetisation benefits, electricity rebates and unpaid portions of gratuities owed to former workers.

According to him, retirees who left service as far back as 2000 are still owed a significant percentage of their gratuities, while several approved pension increases have yet to be reflected in their payments.

Osakioduwa alleged that funds meant for the settlement of the arrears had already been released to the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), but beneficiaries had not received any payment.

He noted that the delay had made it difficult for many pensioners to afford healthcare, meet daily living expenses and support their families.

Another retiree, Solomon Ifijeh, claimed that the Federal Government released the funds earlier in the year and that PTAD had assured pensioners that payment would commence within months.

He said the retirees had repeatedly been given new timelines, but no payments had been made despite the assurances.

The protesters appealed to President Bola Tinubu to intervene and ensure that PTAD addresses their concerns without further delay.

They warned that continued postponement of the payments could worsen the welfare situation of thousands of retired workers who depend on their pensions for survival.

The retirees urged relevant authorities to investigate the matter and expedite the settlement of all outstanding entitlements owed to former NEPA and PHCN employees.