The Nigeria Union of Pensioners has urged its members to obtain their Permanent Voter Cards ahead of the 2027 general elections and use their votes to elect credible leaders.
The appeal was made by the union’s South West Public Relations Officer, Olusegun Abatan, during a zonal meeting held in Abeokuta on Wednesday.
Abatan emphasized that voter participation remains the most effective means of removing underperforming leaders and electing individuals who will govern with integrity.
He also decried the prevailing economic hardship in the country, attributing it to poor leadership and governance.
“As I speak, the rate of inflation has skyrocketed as a result of increase in energy, that is, increase in petrol and diesel, to the effect that many people are finding it more difficult to have means of livelihood.
“Before the Iranian war, Nigerians were suffering. There is nothing we can put on the table that Nigerians are enjoying from this government. It has now been exacerbated by the war between Israel and Iran,” he said.
He further argued that unlike other countries implementing measures to cushion economic challenges, Nigeria has yet to take sufficient steps to ease the burden on citizens.
“Many countries of the world are finding ways of alleviating the suffering of their citizens. Some even have started subsidizing how workers should go to work and the rest. As we speak, it is quite unfortunate that the Nigerian government has not woken up to what should be done for the citizens of this country.
“Should the government continue to look on as we suffer and go down the drain? The answer lies between us and the government. Ladies and gentlemen, it is saddening to inform you that the governments in the South West, some governments in the South West, have not been up to estimating the humongous gratuities of our members, to the effect that some of our members are still being owed gratuities from year 2011 to date. Year 2011 to date is 15 years.
“The money that should have been collected in 2011, even if it was N10,000 in 2011, it is no more worthwhile in 2026 and is quite unfortunate that these governments or governors go about as if nothing is happening.
“It is quite unfortunate that throughout the federation that the worst of us are ruling the best of us, because if we have got the best of us ruling the best of us, life will have been better and more meaningful to the citizens of this country.
“To pensioners and even to citizens of this country, the season of election is here. I want to advise, particularly our pensioners, that have not gotten their voter’s card, to go and do it because, this is what you can use to send away the governors that are not taking care of you, particularly those governors that want to do a second term. And for those that are coming, let us shine our eyes. Let us know their antecedents,” Abatan added.
Also speaking at the event, the Chairman of the NUP South West Zone, Waidi Oloyede, identified the non implementation of the Consequential Adjustments of Pensions, as approved in the 2019 Federal Government circular, as a major challenge facing pensioners.
