By Yusuf Salihu Sansani, Jalingo
The Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Taraba State Council, Comrade El-Nathan Bila Auta, has appealed to pensioners in the state to remain calm and patient over the delay in implementing the ₦30,000 minimum wage for retirees, which the government earlier promised to effect by the end of October 2025.
Speaking in Jalingo, the state capital, Auta explained that while the implementation has not yet commenced, progress has been made in the necessary administrative processes.
According to him, both the Office of the Head of Service and the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) have concluded their respective roles, and the matter now awaits the final approval of Governor Dr. Agbu Kefas, after which the State Ministry of Finance will commence payment.
He urged pensioners to remain hopeful, prayerful, and supportive of the union’s leadership as it continues to engage the government to ensure their rights and entitlements are met.
“Pensioners should be more prayerful, supportive, and dedicated to the union so that we can continue the struggle for the full realization of our entitlements from the government,” he said.
Auta also appealed to Governor Kefas to show compassion and address the plight of pensioners who, he said, have continued to face severe hardship due to unpaid entitlements.
“Pensioners are among the most vulnerable to disease and hunger. Many cannot afford daily meals or medication due to the non-payment of their benefits.
“Some have lost their lives, while others have had their children sent home for inability to pay school fees or have been evicted from their homes.
“The challenges facing pensioners in Taraba State are enormous and heartbreaking,” he lamented.
The NUP chairman noted that settling the outstanding pensions and gratuities would be a historic achievement for Governor Kefas and would further solidify his political legacy.
“If Governor Kefas clears all pension arrears within his first term, he will go down in history as the first Taraba governor to comprehensively address the welfare of retirees since the state’s creation 34 years ago,” Auta stated.
He further added that such action would boost the governor’s political goodwill ahead of the 2027 elections, saying that prompt attention to pensioners’ issues could translate into overwhelming support from over 40,000 pensioners and their families across the state.
Auta emphasized that pensioners remain partners in progress with the government and called on Governor Kefas to sustain his reforms in other sectors, such as education and agriculture, by extending similar attention to the welfare of retirees.
He concluded by urging the government to implement both the ₦30,000 and ₦70,000 minimum wages for pensioners, as has already been done for active workers in several other Nigerian states.
