Pension / retirement / pension scheme / financial and business concept. The word ‘PENSION’ in German, on a stack of euro coins and banknotes.
The Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) has called on the National Assembly to urgently review the country’s pension scheme, citing the dire living conditions of many retired Nigerian workers.
Speaking at the grand finale of the 2025 NUJ FCT Press Week on Tuesday in Abuja, NUJ National President Alhassan Yahaya, represented by Zone D Vice President Alhaji Adeiza Momoh, said the current pension system is flawed and failing its beneficiaries.
Yahaya noted that many former civil servants, journalists, and police officers now live in poverty due to inadequate pension payments. He referenced the recent protest by retired police officers in Abuja as further evidence of the system’s failure.
“Our colleagues are victims, the police are victims, and civil servants are victims,” he said. “Some retired deputy directors are now unable to afford basic needs. If you don’t have children to support you, life after retirement becomes extremely difficult.”
The NUJ president appealed directly to the Speaker of the House of Representatives, saying the pension law contains “fundamental flaws” that require urgent legislative intervention.
He also urged journalists to give greater coverage to issues affecting their welfare, including pensions and salaries, adding that these matters should be prioritised in national discourse.
The NUJ’s position adds to growing calls for a comprehensive overhaul of Nigeria’s pension system to guarantee dignity and security for workers in retirement.
