Niger NLC pushes N30,000 minimum pension

Niger State Council of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) says discussion is in top gear with the state government to review the monthly welfare allowance of pensioners, particularly those receiving as little as N2,800.

The state NLC Chairman, Comrade Idris Abdulkareem Lafene, disclosed this while speaking with Nigerian Tribune in Minna, noting that although the number of pensioners earning such low stipends is small, they are mostly retirees of over 40 years.

Lafene lamented the absence of a legal framework for a minimum pension as a major challenge in addressing the plight of retirees, stressing that while there is a statutory provision for a minimum wage, none for pension.

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He explained that the labour union is engaging the government, including on compassionate grounds, to secure an upward review of pension payments, proposing a minimum monthly pension of N30,000 to reflect current economic realities.

“There is no law for minimum pension, only for minimum wage. The 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, as amended, makes provision for minimum wage but is silent on minimum pension.

“In Niger State, some pensioners still receive as low as N2,800 monthly. These are people who retired over 40 years ago. We are engaging the government to review this and ensure pensioners earn a more realistic amount. We are proposing a minimum of N30,000,” he said.

The labour leader also revealed that the council has concluded plans to roll out a motorcycle loan scheme for workers in the state to ease transportation challenges.

According to him, about 10,000 motorcycles have been earmarked for distribution under the scheme, which will feature both mechanical and electric motorcycles.

He said the mechanical motorcycles would cost about N1.4 million, while the electric version of it would go for over N1.8 million.

Lafene, however, noted that the initial projection for the scheme had been exceeded, as the number of applicants had more than doubled.

“At the beginning, we thought interest would be low and proposed 10,000 units of the motorcycle, but the number of applicants has now doubled that figure,” he added.