Retirees Left to Die in Poverty: APC Chieftain Slams Tinubu Over Pension Crisis

 

A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has called out President Bola Tinubu, urging him to urgently address the crippling hardship and neglect faced by retirees under Nigeria’s Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).

 

In a scathing statement on Tuesday, Oyintiloye decried the delayed and non-payment of pensions, inadequate funding, and alleged corruption within the scheme, warning that many retirees are being pushed into poverty, sickness, and even untimely death.

 

16 Years of Unpaid Pensions: A Death Sentence for Retirees?

The APC stalwart acknowledged Tinubu’s approval of a ₦758 billion bond in February to clear 16 years of pension arrears, but insisted that the effort was “too little, too late as thousands of elderly pensioners continue to suffer.

 

“Since the enactment of the Pensions Reform Act in 2004, many retirees have been forced into financial distress, with some receiving only 25 to 50 percent of their lump sum after retirement—while others remain unpaid for years,” he said.

 

Pensioners Starving, Dying Without Healthcare

Oyintiloye painted a grim picture of the dire conditions retirees face, stating that many pensioners struggle to afford food, rent, and life-saving medications despite having served the nation faithfully for decades.

 

“The contributory pension scheme is failing our retirees. Many of them are battling age-related illnesses but cannot afford medication. Some still have dependents relying on them, yet their meager earnings are not even enough to survive,” he said.

 

Call for Pension Reforms: “Let Retirees Access Their Full Savings!

In a bold demand, Oyintiloye urged Tinubu to collaborate with the National Assembly to immediately review the 2004 Pension Act, advocating for retirees to access their full savings upon retirement instead of waiting indefinitely for government handouts.

 

He also called for free healthcare for all pensioners above 65, arguing that no retiree should have to choose between food and medication after serving Nigeria.

 

“President Tinubu has shown he can tackle national challenges, but this issue is urgent. His intervention could mean the difference between life and death for thousands of retirees.

 

Will Tinubu Act, or Will Pensioners Continue to Suffer?

As anger grows over the worsening plight of pensioners, all eyes are now on Tinubu. Will he step in to rescue Nigeria’s forgotten retirees, or will they continue to die in poverty, abandoned by the very system they served?