Pensioners Give FG 21-Day Ultimatum to Pay N150,000 Palliative…. Else…

Federal Government pensioners have issued a 21-day ultimatum to the government to pay their outstanding N150,000 palliative allowance or face a peaceful protest nationwide.

The pensioners, under the Coalition of Federal Pensioners of Nigeria, made the demand in a letter dated August 21, 2026, and addressed to the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction.

The letter, signed by the coalition’s National Chairman, Ogunbote Mukaila, and National Secretary, Gbadamosi Ganiyu, said the ultimatum commenced on August 21 and would expire on September 10, 2026.

The coalition also copied the Federal Ministry of Finance, Pension Transitional Arrangements Directorate (PTAD), Accountant-General of the Federation and other relevant government agencies.

The pensioners are demanding N150,000, representing six months of the N25,000 monthly palliative approved by the Federal Government in 2023 to cushion the impact of the removal of the petrol subsidy.

According to the retirees, while workers had received their approved palliative payments, pensioners were yet to receive the equivalent six-month payment.

The pensioners argued that the outstanding allowance had become particularly important because of the rising cost of living and the impact of the government’s economic reforms on their livelihoods.

They appealed to the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction to facilitate the release of the funds and liaise with PTAD, which maintains records of pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme.

The retirees also attributed part of the delay to developments surrounding the former Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, Betta Edu, who was suspended by President Bola Tinubu in January 2024 following allegations of financial impropriety involving the ministry.

The Economic and Financial Crimes Commission subsequently investigated allegations relating to funds handled by the ministry.

However, the pensioners said the current administration could resolve the matter by directing the relevant agencies to process and pay the outstanding allowance.

They warned that failure to make the payment by September 10 would trigger a peaceful but large-scale protest.

The coalition urged the Humanitarian Affairs Minister to ensure that the payment was made before the expiration of the deadline, stressing the vulnerability of elderly Nigerians who depend on their pensions for basic needs.

The latest ultimatum is the latest development in a prolonged dispute over the N25,000 pensioner palliative.

The Federal Government introduced the monthly payment in 2023 as part of measures to cushion the effects of petrol subsidy removal. The allowance was initially approved for three months, after which pensioners demanded an extension to six months.

The issue subsequently remained unresolved, prompting repeated demands and threats of protest by pensioners.

In 2025, the Coalition of Federal Pensioners of Nigeria threatened nationwide protests over the unpaid palliative and outstanding pension increment arrears.

The House of Representatives also raised concerns over the non-payment of the approved pension palliative and pension increment, warning that the delay was worsening the financial difficulties faced by retirees.

The latest demand comes amid the Federal Government’s efforts to clear outstanding pension liabilities.

In July 2026, the government announced the payment of N39.63 billion to 24,814 pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme as part of efforts to settle long-standing pension obligations.

Despite the payment, the coalition maintains that the N150,000 palliative owed to affected pensioners remains outstanding and is demanding that the government resolve the matter before the September 10 deadline.