By Michael Oche
The Federal Parastatals and Private Sector Pensioners Association of Nigeria (FEPPPAN) has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to extend the newly approved N70,000 monthly transport allowance for public servants to pensioners, expressing concern that retirees are being left out of government efforts to cushion the effects of rising living costs.
The association said pensioners also incur transportation costs when travelling to hospitals for medical care, markets to buy essential commodities and other places to engage in economic activities to supplement their pensions and sustain their livelihoods.
It questioned why retirees should be excluded from transportation support when they are equally affected by rising fares and other costs of living.
FEPPPAN also expressed disappointment that eligible pensioners were still awaiting the N25,000 monthly subsidy-removal palliative announced by the Federal Government in October 2023, even as another relief package was being approved for serving workers.
The association’s position was contained in a statement jointly signed by its President-General, Elder Benjamin Maisamari Amako, and General Secretary, Mr Franklin Erinle, who called for immediate presidential intervention to address the concerns of pensioners.
According to the association, its appeal was not against the transport allowance approved for serving workers but against what it described as the apparent neglect of retirees in government’s response to the economic hardship confronting Nigerians.
It lamented that pensioners, many of whom depend on fixed monthly incomes to meet their needs for food, medication, transportation and other essentials, were being left to cope with rising expenses without comparable relief.
FEPPPAN recalled that on October 1, 2023, the Federal Government announced a N25,000 monthly palliative for three months to cushion the effects of petrol subsidy removal, with vulnerable pensioners among the groups identified for assistance.
It said the prolonged delay in delivering the promised relief had deepened the frustration and hardship faced by retirees.
The association urged Tinubu to direct the relevant government agencies to expedite payment of the outstanding palliative to eligible pensioners and ensure their inclusion in the new ₦70,000 monthly transport allowance arrangement.
FEPPPAN maintained that pensioners deserved equal consideration in government policies designed to ease economic hardship, stressing that their years of service to the country should not leave them forgotten in the implementation of relief measures.
