The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) has distanced itself from a planned naked protest scheduled for Monday, 24 November, by the Coalition of Pensioners.
In a statement issued on Friday, the National President of the union, Mr. Godwin Abumisi, said the protest was unauthorised, warning that any pensioner who participates would be doing so at their own risk.
“Our attention has been drawn to a purported threat by some group of pensioners, threatening fire and brimstone, to embark on a naked protest to press for the release and payment of the pending six months’ arrears arising from the N32,000 pension increase,” the NUP said.
Mr. Abumisi acknowledged the outstanding arrears owed to pensioners but stressed that the NUP—described as the only authentic body representing civil, parastatal and paramilitary pensioners in Nigeria—remained committed to peaceful engagement.
He said the union preferred “to toe the line of peace and dialogue, which is already ongoing and is yielding the desired results.”
According to the NUP, the Federal Government has begun paying the pension increment from September 2023 and has pledged to settle a substantial portion of the arrears alongside the November 2025 monthly pension. The Office of the Accountant-General of the Federation reportedly gave this assurance during a meeting with the union on 19 November 2025.
“For emphasis’ sake, we wish to categorically and unequivocally state that the Nigeria Union of Pensioners and its teeming members have no plan to embark on any protest, as we believe that to jaw-jaw is better than to war-war,” the statement read.
Mr. Abumisi cautioned against actions capable of embarrassing senior citizens. “As senior citizens, we are conscious of our status in society and must be seen to be playing the exemplary role of elder statesmen expected of us always,” he said.
The NUP also urged the Federal Government to immediately begin payment of the N25,000 monthly palliative for three months, approved since October 2023, to cushion the impact of fuel subsidy removal. It noted that while workers had already received the payment, pensioners were still waiting despite fulfilling all requirements.
The union appealed to President Bola Tinubu to expedite the release of the funds through the National Social Safety Net Office to avoid further agitation or possible industrial action.
It reassured members that their concerns were being addressed and called for continued calm and patience, insisting that peaceful engagement remained its preferred strategy.
Earlier this month, the Coalition of Federal Pensioners of Nigeria had threatened a nationwide naked protest if the government failed to clear outstanding pension increment arrears and unpaid palliatives.
