By Adaora Madu
The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) in Kaduna State has reported the tragic deaths of at least 20 retired senior public officers, including former Permanent Secretaries and Heads of Service, who passed away without receiving their retirement entitlements.
NUP Secretary, Alhassan Balarabe Musa, revealed that these deaths occurred amid ongoing delays in the payment of pensions and gratuities, despite court orders instructing the state government to settle the arrears.
He expressed disappointment that the hoped-for improvements in 2025 had not materialized.
Musa also highlighted the state’s failure to implement a pension increase of N32,000 for retirees under the Defined Benefits Scheme and urged Governor Uba Sani to intervene and resolve the dire situation.
The delay in pension payments has left many retirees struggling to meet basic needs, including food, healthcare, and shelter.
The NUP has called on the state government to prioritize pension payments as both a legal and moral obligation, warning that continued delays will exacerbate the suffering of elderly citizens.
