Emmanuel OchayiThe National Association of Nigerian Pensioners (NANP) has commended President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, for including Nigerian pensioners in the conditional cash transfer programme meant for the award of palliatives to Nigerians to cushion the effect of petrol subsidy removal.
The group in a letter, appreciated President Tinubu’s efforts in repositioning the national economy, despite the temporary hardships faced by Nigerians due to the petrol subsidy removal and floating of the local currency, the naira in the foreign exchange market.
In a move to mitigate the impact of fuel subsidy removal, the Nigerian Federal government announced in October that pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS) will be among the beneficiaries of the approved N25,000 conditional cash transfer.
Prime Business Africa reports that President Tinubu has formally launched the promised conditional cash transfer program at the beginning of the month, targeted at 15 million households across the country who are billed to receive N75,000 within three months. The aim is to mitigate the impact of the recent fuel subsidy removal and help eradicate poverty across the country.
The decision was also confirmed by the Pension Transitional Administration Directorate (PTAD) in October during an interactive session with stakeholders, including the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP).
PTAD’s statement reads: “Pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS) are part of the priority groups to benefit from the just approved N25,000 Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT).”
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The pensioners, on behalf of thousands of retirees in the Federal Public Service and Federal Parastatals, expressed gratitude for the palliative measures approved for both workers and pensioners. However, they pointed out a discrepancy in the duration of the palliative award, with workers receiving N35,000 monthly for six months while pensioners were granted N25,000 monthly for only three months.
In an appeal to President Tinubu, the pensioners requested the extension of the N25,000 monthly palliative to a uniform duration of six months, aligning it with the treatment of the workers. They emphasized the importance of fairness and equity in their request.
The pensioners concluded the letter with prayers for President Tinubu’s continued effective leadership and the well-being of the nation. They expressed anticipation and gratitude for his consideration of their plea.
“We commend you for the bold steps you have taken to reposition our national economy through the removal of the very unsustainable fuel subsidy and the floatation of the naira in the foreign exchange market,” said the letter.
“While appreciating what you have done for us, with due respect, Sir, that was not fair enough to us as the grant or award should have been for a uniform duration of six months for both groups,” the letter noted.
“We are very passionately appealing to your Excellency, in the interest of fairness and equity, to compassionately extend the period of the payment of Palliative of the N25,000.00 per month award to us to 6 months as was done for the workers in the Federal Public Service, including the Federal Parastatals,” the pensioners stated
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