Federal pensioners have issued a 21-day ultimatum to the Federal Government to pay the outstanding N150,000 palliative allowance, threatening a nationwide peaceful protest if the money is not paid by September 10, 2026.
The retirees, under the Coalition of Federal Pensioners of Nigeria, made the demand in a letter dated August 21, 2026, addressed to the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Reduction.
“Workers Have Been Paid, We Are Still Waiting”
The pensioners said the N150,000 represents six months of N25,000 monthly palliative approved by the Federal Government in 2023 to cushion the effect of fuel subsidy removal.
According to the letter signed by National Chairman Ogunbote Mukaila and National Secretary Gbadamosi Ganiyu, while civil servants have received their palliative and even additional payments, pensioners have been left out.
“We, the Nigerian pensioners, agreed to embark on a protest for the government’s refusal to pay our palliative, which all workers had received and also received additional palliative the Federal Government first paid. The workers asked for more, and they are paid,” the letter stated.
“The workers had already been paid beyond the six months of this palliative we are asking for. We are expecting one hundred and fifty thousand naira (N150,000), which is for six months.”
Blame on Past Ministry Scandal
The pensioners alleged that the delay was caused by mismanagement in the Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs, referencing the suspension of former Minister *Betta Edu* in January 2024 over financial impropriety allegations.
“The minister, Mrs Betta Edu, was accused of mismanaging funds, which caused the delay in payment. She was suspended by the President since March 2024,” they said.
They appealed to the current administration to intervene and direct relevant agencies to release the funds.
“We Are Old Citizens and Need Finance to Stay Alive”
The coalition copied the Federal Ministry of Finance, PTAD, the Accountant-General of the Federation, and other agencies in the letter.
They urged the ministry to liaise with *PTAD*, which has records of all Defined Benefit Scheme, DBS, pensioners, to facilitate payment.
“We are using this opportunity to appeal to the Minister of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation to please ensure that our palliative is promptly paid on or before the 10th of September 2026,” they pleaded.
“We are old citizens and need finance to stay alive.”
The pensioners warned:
“The pensioners now agreed on a 21-day ultimatum for the payment of the palliative. Any refusal after these 21 days, we will embark on peaceful but loud protest.”
Background: Years of Unpaid Promises
The N25,000 monthly payment was first approved for three months in 2023, but pensioners demanded an extension to six months. The issue has remained unresolved despite repeated demands.
In 2025, the coalition threatened nationwide protests over unpaid palliative and pension increment arrears. The House of Representatives also raised concerns that withholding benefits was worsening retirees’ financial difficulties.
The latest demand comes after the Federal Government in July 2026 announced payment of N39.63bn to 24,814 DBS pensioners to settle long-standing pension obligations.
