By Victor Ahiuma-Young

The Nigeria Labour Congress, NLC, has issued an urgent directive to all affiliated pension unions across the country to rally together and submit their responses to pressing pension issues, following a formal communication from the House of Representatives.

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In a letter by its General Secretary, Emmanuel Ugboaja, NLC informed its affiliates that the House of Representatives is investigating the non-payment of pension increments, the withholding of government-approved palliatives, and other long-standing pension-related grievances affecting Nigerian retirees.

The move signals a renewed push by labour leaders to ensure justice for pensioners who have suffered under delays, policy inconsistencies, and administrative neglect.

According to NLC, the House has scheduled a public hearing on the matter, and the Congress is expected to make a comprehensive submission on or before June 30, 2025.

Consequently, all pension unions were directed to submit their position papers to NLC National Secretariat by Thursday, June 26, 2025, to enable the Congress to present a consolidated and impactful position.

According to the letter by NLC, “Your prompt and detailed responses are crucial to shaping a unified and impactful position for NLC.”

Congress noted that the public hearing represents a critical opportunity to demand accountability and lasting reforms in the pension system.

NLC specifically requested unions to: Review the House letter and highlight union-specific pension issues, including delays in payments, discrepancies in pension calculations, and bureaucratic obstacles; Provide actionable recommendations to reform the pension process and protect the welfare of retirees; and submit any communication records previously exchanged with government agencies regarding pension matters.

This latest intervention comes amid growing discontent among pensioners nationwide, many of whom are yet to receive approved wage adjustments or relief packages promised by the federal government.

Labour stakeholders say the probe by the House could be a watershed moment for pension reform, provided unions speak with one voice.

“We must work together to create a fair and sustainable pension system for all Nigerian workers,” the NLC letter added.

Vanguard News