The General Secretary of the Nigeria Civil Service Union (NCSU), Gbenga Olowoyo, has raised concern over what he described as a worsening and avoidable surge in deaths among Nigerian pensioners, blaming poor welfare systems, policy failures, and government neglect.
Olowoyo, who also serves as National General Secretary of the Joint National Public Service Negotiating Council (JNPSNC), said available figures indicate that a significant number of public servants die shortly after retirement, describing the trend as alarming and unacceptable.
He explained that retirement in Nigeria has increasingly become a period of hardship rather than rest, with many retirees struggling to survive without adequate social or financial support after years of public service.
According to him, many pensioners are left in difficult conditions due to unpaid pensions, delayed gratuities, accumulated arrears, and the rising cost of living, with some reportedly surviving on extremely low monthly payments that cannot meet basic needs.
Olowoyo also criticized the failure of some government bodies and private employers to fully comply with the Contributory Pension Scheme, despite reforms introduced over the years to strengthen the system. He said weak enforcement and administrative delays continue to undermine pension delivery.
He further noted that beyond financial challenges, retirees also face emotional and physical stress caused by repeated verification exercises, travel demands, and uncertainty over payment timelines.
The labour leader also condemned what he described as poor attitudes toward pensioners by some public officials, saying it contributes to a lack of trust in the system and diminishes the value of retirees’ contributions to national development.
The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) has also expressed similar concerns, warning that inflation and rising living costs are worsening the conditions of retirees across the country.
Despite government interventions such as pension bond payments and incremental adjustments, Olowoyo insisted that more comprehensive reforms are urgently needed.
He called for stricter enforcement of pension laws, timely payment of entitlements, expanded healthcare access for retirees, and stronger welfare support systems for elderly citizens.
Olowoyo stressed that pensioners deserve dignity after years of service, urging authorities and stakeholders to take immediate action to prevent further avoidable deaths among retirees.
He warned that continued neglect of pension issues raises serious questions about national values and urged coordinated reforms to address the growing crisis.
