By Johnbosco Agbakwuru, Abuja

The Federal Parastatals and Private Sector Pensioners Association of Nigeria, FEPPPAN, has condemned the recent exposure of vulnerable and elderly pensioners to “avoidable danger”, during a recent protest at the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate, PTAD, office in Lagos.

In a statement jointly signed by its President-General, Elder Benjamin Maisaniari Amako, and General Secretary, Franklin Erinle, the association said it was “deeply touched and troubled” by images and reports from the December 8 protest, where visibly weak pensioners gathered to demand payment of outstanding entitlements.

The pensioners’ agitation followed persistent delays in the clearance of overdue benefits despite earlier assurances from government officials.

FEPPPAN, while expressing its displeasure with the delays, said no senior citizen should be put in harm’s way in the process of making legitimate demands.

“We were deeply touched to see some federal pensioners called out on a protest at PTAD’s Lagos office on Monday, December 8, 2025,” the statement read.

“It was a pathetic sight to witness frail senior citizens crying out for what rightly belongs to them. While we are equally dissatisfied with the delays in payment, exposing elderly pensioners to such risks is unacceptable.”

FEPPPAN urged the Federal Government and its relevant agencies to immediately honour their commitments to clear all outstanding pension rights, stressing that the situation has dragged on for too long.

“We plead with government and her agencies to stick to the promises made to clear all overdue pension rights in the shortest possible time, as assured to the two registered trade unions representing all Defined Benefit Scheme federal pensioners in Nigeria,” the statement added.

The association also cautioned pensioners’ groups to channel their grievances through the national umbrella bodies to avoid actions that may endanger the lives of elderly members.

“Meanwhile, we call on all federal pensioners to be calm for a little while more for government to do the needful. No pensioner will lose his or her life in our struggle to get what belongs to us,” the union assured.

Expressing optimism, FEPPPAN said it believes President Bola Ahmed Tinubu will “turn his full attention to the plight of pensioners shortly,” bringing an end to their prolonged suffering.