The Federal Parastatals and Private Sector Pensioners Association of Nigeria (FEPPPAN) has urged President Bola Tinubu to direct the payment of three months’ outstanding ₦25,000 subsidy-removal palliatives for vulnerable citizens.
The association also called for urgent action on pension harmonisation, outstanding entitlements and improved healthcare access for retirees under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS).
The demands were contained in a communiqué issued after FEPPPAN’s National Executive Council (NEC) meeting in Abuja and signed by its President-General, Benjamin Amako, and General Secretary, Franklin Erinle.
FEPPPAN expressed concern over the implementation of pension harmonisation, which it said took effect in January 2026.
The association called on the government to release the circular guiding the policy to clarify the position of the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) and explain its implications for pensioners.
FG, NLC Agree On ₦70,000 Monthly Transport Support
Meanwhile, the Federal Government and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) have agreed to establish a Minimum Wage Negotiation Committee immediately, alongside a monthly transport intervention of ₦70,000 for workers for six months, beginning in November 2026.
However, both parties have yet to resolve their disagreement over the effective date for implementing a new national minimum wage.
The decisions followed a conciliation meeting convened by the Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment in Abuja on Tuesday.
According to resolutions signed by representatives of the government and organised labour, the committee is expected to begin work immediately, although the implementation timeline for the proposed minimum wage remains unresolved.
The meeting followed an earlier engagement last Thursday after the NLC raised concerns about the government’s handling of workers’ welfare demands.
Government Approves Outstanding Allowances
The resolutions also provided for the payment of outstanding peculiar allowances owed to eligible public servants in three monthly instalments, beginning in November.
The government confirmed approval of the allowances with effect from May 1, 2026, with accumulated arrears scheduled for payment in three equal instalments.
For health workers, both parties agreed to settle 19 months of outstanding allowances within three months, beginning in December 2026.
The commitments address some of labour’s welfare concerns amid mounting pressure on the government to improve workers’ purchasing power and ease the impact of rising living costs.
Tax Relief, Fuel Prices Remain Outstanding Issues
The conciliation meeting considered several issues, including minimum wage negotiations, petrol prices, economic relief for workers, public service welfare, adjustments to the Consolidated Health Salary Structure (CONHESS), tax relief and hazard allowances for agricultural workers.
However, the resolutions did not indicate that the government had agreed to reduce petrol pump prices.
On tax relief, the meeting resolved to refer the matter to the National Economic Council, noting that taxation is a statutory issue.
The parties also discussed outstanding hazard allowances for agricultural officers.
According to the resolutions, the Federal Ministry of Agriculture and Food Security had submitted the list of beneficiaries and the associated financial implications to the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission for verification.
The government did not specify the detailed payment mechanism for the six-month transport intervention or indicate whether it would continue beyond the approved period.
While the agreements address several workers’ welfare demands, the dispute over the effective date of a new national minimum wage remains unresolved.
FEPPPAN’s separate appeal highlights pensioners’ concerns over outstanding relief payments, pension harmonisation and access to healthcare, particularly for retirees under the Defined Benefit Scheme.
