The Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP) in South-West, yesterday, called on the Federal Government to revisit and review upward the current minimum wage and pension to cushion the effect of economic hardship.

The retirees equally urged the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) and Trade Union Congress (TUC) to start the process of renegotiation for a new minimum wage and pension for workers and pensioners amid soaring cost of food items and living conditions in the country.

They also called on their members to collect and use their Permanent Voters’ Cards (PVCs) to vote out governors who have not paid outstanding gratuities since 2011 and are seeking a second term in office come the 2027 elections.

The pensioners, however, vowed to seek legal action to challenge any governor from the South-West who fails to pay the outstanding gratuities of the retirees before seeking a second term or leaving the office.

The Public Relations Officer of the NUP, South-West Zone, Dr Olusegun Abatan, who spoke while briefing journalists during the union’s bi-monthly meeting hosted in Abeokuta by the Ogun State branch, said that it was high time the Federal Government revisited the living wage and pension for increments.

Abatan said that the pensioners were ready to support and back the NLC and TUC on the renegotiation of a new minimum wage and pension.

He, therefore, urged the Federal Government to meet with the leadership of the NLC and TUC on how to fine-tune strategy towards the implementation of the new wage and pension, saying that both the current economic hardship and the U.S.-Israel/Iran war have affected the cost of living.

He lauded Oyo State governor, Seyi Makinde, and his Ondo counterpart, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, for being pensioners-friendly governors.

Also speaking, Chairman, NUP South-West Zone, Waidi Oloyede, disclosed that the major problem of pensioners was the unfulfilled approval of the Consequential Adjustments of Pensions in line with the 2019 Federal Government circular on consequential adjustments of pensions. (Guardian)