Edo NEPA, PHCN retirees demand N350bn arrears payment

Pensioners from the defunct National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) and Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) in Edo State have protested the alleged non-payment of their pensions and gratuities for 25 years. The retirees claim their outstanding entitlements have accumulated to over N350 billion, causing significant hardship and leading to the deaths of many colleagues.

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We have been asking for this payment, which the Federal Government has released. Putting everything together, it’s over N350bn that they are now owing us. And these accumulations are from harmonisation, monetisation and electricity rebates that they have not paid to us.

Speaking on behalf of the group, Alile Osakioduwa alleged that the Federal Government has released the necessary funds to the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD). However, these funds have not been disbursed to the retirees, who are owed arrears from harmonisation, monetisation, and electricity rebates. Osakioduwa stated that even gratuities for those who retired in 2000 were short-paid by approximately 45 percent.

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The majority of our pensioners are dying. Many are even sick. If you can see some of them who are here now, you can see how age has reduced their strength. We worked in NEPA, which later became PHCN.

The retirees also claim they have not benefited from recent pension increments approved by the Federal Government, including those under President Bola Tinubu's administration. The alleged failure to pay these outstanding entitlements has made it increasingly difficult for many retirees to cover medical expenses and provide for their families. "The majority of our pensioners are dying. Many are even sick," Osakioduwa lamented, pointing to the visible toll of age and hardship on the protesters.

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This money has been given to PTAD. In actual fact, this money was collected by PTAD in May this year. It was given to them by the Federal Government, facilitated by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, George Akume, in May. They have received the money. They promised to pay us in July. First of all, they said June. Two weeks later, they said July. July has passed, and there is no sign that they want to pay us.

Another retiree, Solomon Ifijeh, corroborated the claims, stating that PTAD received the funds in May, with assurances of payment by July. "July has passed, and there is no sign that they want to pay us," Ifijeh said. The retirees are appealing to President Tinubu to intervene and direct PTAD to address their grievances, expressing concern that the situation at PTAD is "getting out of hand."

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We want them to step into this matter. They should check the activities of PTAD because it is getting out of hand.