Osun APC chieftain urges Tinubu to aid contributory pensioners
By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo
A chieftain of the All Progressives Congress (APC) in Osun State, Hon. Olatunbosun Oyintiloye, has appealed to President Bola Tinubu to address the challenges faced by contributory pensioners in Nigeria.
Speaking on Tuesday in Osogbo, Oyintiloye, a former member of the defunct APC Presidential Campaign Council (PCC), expressed concern over delayed or non-payment of pensions, inadequate funding, and corruption within the pension scheme.
The former Osun lawmaker noted that since the introduction of the Pensions Reform Act (PRA) in 2004, many pensioners have suffered due to the failures of past administrations in implementing a fair and sustainable pension system.
Oyintiloye urged President Tinubu to collaborate with the National Assembly to review the 2004 Pensions Reform Act, ensuring that retirees can withdraw their retirement savings immediately after leaving service.
He also emphasized the need to provide free healthcare for pensioners aged 65 and above to improve their quality of life after retirement.
The APC chieftain commended Tinubu for approving a ₦758 billion bond in February to clear 16 years of pension liabilities but stressed that further action is needed to alleviate poverty among retirees.
“I want to appeal to the president to address the plight of pensioners under the contributory pension scheme. The 2004 Pensions Reform Act should be reviewed to ensure retirees can live decently. Due to delayed or inadequate payments, many pensioners struggle to afford basic needs like meals, healthcare, and housing,” he said.
“After retirement, many of these senior citizens suffer from age-related ailments but cannot afford medication. Despite leaving active service, they still have dependents. That is why I am pleading with President Tinubu to intervene. He has proven to be a leader capable of solving problems, and his intervention will bring relief to pensioners and hope to those still in service,” Oyintiloye added.
