PTAD, Pension Unions Move to Address Tensions Over Planned Protest

By Oluwakemi Kindness

The Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) has stepped in to address growing concerns within the pension community following plans by a faction of pensioners to stage a protest.

At an emergency meeting in Abuja, Executive Secretary of PTAD, Tolulope Odunaiya, met with the leadership of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP) and the Federal Parastatals and Private Sector Pensioners Association of Nigeria (FEPPPAN) to tackle what she described as “issues of misinformation, fragmented communication, and threats to pensioners’ dignity.”

A statement on Wednesday night by the Head, Corporate Communications, PTAD, Olugbenga Ajayi, says a key issue discussed was the claimed delay in pension adjustments and arrears, which Odunaiya said PTAD has been working to resolve.

She highlighted major steps already taken, including the implementation of the ₦32,000 minimum wage pension increment, payment of the 10.66% and 12.95% adjustments, and securing a ₦45 billion emergency allocation to clear outstanding arrears.

Odunaiya also addressed confusion around the widely discussed ₦25,000 palliative, stressing that it falls under the Federal Ministry of Humanitarian Affairs and Poverty Alleviation, not PTAD.

She assured pensioners that the Directorate is following up with the Ministry for clarity and updates.

Another central issue raised was the proposed “naked protest” by a breakaway group. The Executive Secretary cautioned that such actions could undermine ongoing negotiations and distort the real concerns of pensioners.

In response, NUP and FEPPPAN leaders distanced their unions from the planned demonstration.

They said the protest does not represent their position and urged pensioners to rely on recognised union structures for information and engagement.

The meeting ended with a renewed commitment to strengthen communication, address lingering issues through structured dialogue, and prioritise pensioners’ dignity and welfare.