Opinion
Protecting The Rights of Nigeria’s Pensioners
The retired civil servant is one who receives pension,
especially those who have served the government for thirty-five years or have attained the age of sixty years. It is on record that about three million Nigerians on pension are feared dead each year according to the National Human Rights Commission (NHRC).
Indeed, this huge number of retirees who are on pension die every year from lack of adequate care, and neglect by the same government, which they meritoriously served for thirty-five prospective years of their youthful age.
It has become difficult to be silent than rather be quilt to the fact that civil servants offer the Nigeria State, their head their hands, their legs and their hearts amongst others to function. Therefore, for any responsive government to succeed, the people’s development should be paramount.
Today, the retirees on pension in Nigeria are saddled with myriad of unprotective conducts accorded them by the very government they meritoriously served before their statutory retirement from service. What with the non payment of the 53.4% arrears of pension increment arbitrarily reduced to 33% on current wages increase.
It could be recalled that during implementation of the said wage increment, 20% representing tax on housing and health schemes were deducted from workers wages without considering the fact that pensioners are exempted from paying such taxes.
Again, it is ironical to note that even the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, in its first schedule part (1) chapter (4) section 173-(1) provides for the protection of pension rights of a person in the public service of the federation to receive pension or gratuity and to be regulated by law.
The same law in sub-section (3) provides for the review of pension after every five years or together with any federal civil service salary reviews, whichever is earlier. In the same vein, section 210-(1) sub-section (2) states that the right to pension in the public service of a state shall be regulated by law.
Furthermore, section 210-(2) stipulates that any benefit to which a pensioner is entitled in accordance with or under such law as is referred to in sub-section(1) of this section shall not be withheld or altered to his or her disadvantage except to such extent as is permissible under any law, including the code of conduct.
Unfortunately, all the past governments at the federal and state levels have neglected implementing these constitutional provisions as and when due.
It may interest the reading and listening public and also the federal government to know that pensioners were due for another pension increment in year 2015 as the last increase was made in 2010.
It is also worrisome to note that the various salary harmonization exercises carried out in the past were not being properly done as there are glaring cases of wide disparity between pensions of officers of the same rank who statutorily retired at different dates.
As it is, a foolproof methodology be put in place to avoid cases of some retired officers being short-changed during and eventual harmonization exercise. It is indeed a concern to note that the current minimum wage enjoyed by workers did not incorporate pensioner’s rights as being articulated.
It is very sad because so many of our pensioners still receive monthly pensions below N10,000.00 in contravention of section (173 (3) and 201 (3) of the 1999 Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.
“What is good for the goose they say is also good for the gander”. Presently, the plight of pensioners under the Contributory Pension Scheme does not stand the test of time.
This is because pensioners under the contributory pension scheme have not been able to access their monthly pensions since July, 2014 and worst of it, no gratuity was approved for them after serving government with thirty-five prospective years of their youthful age. These categories of pensioners deserved to be attended to with dispatch in order to alleviate their sufferings.
Again in order to make life easier for pensioners, Nigeria’s Pension Managers should do well to place them on first line charge. This will enable early payment of pensions before payment of workers’ salaries as a mark of honour and respect for the senior citizens of the country. It is indeed disheartening to note that in Rivers State, employees who statutorily retired from service effective from August 2007 have not been paid their federal share of gratuity up till date, the objectives of the Pension Reform Act 2004.
In any case pensioners in Rivers State Civic Service shall ever remain grateful to His Excellency Chief Barr. Nyesom Ezenwo Wike (CON) who within his first one hundred days in office graciously approved and instantly paid the backlog of six months unpaid pensions owed pensioners by the non-workers friendly government of Mr Rotimi Amaechi.
In the same vein, pensioners are passionately appealing to the people friendly Governor, Chief Wike to reconsider the pathetic plights of these pensioner’s by evolving necessary administrative processes to upwardly review and harmonise their pensions accordingly.
This is equally important for the sitting government to revisit the verification exercise to payment of federal share of gratuity, earlier undertaken by the past administration of Mr Rotimi Amaechi, to authenticate illegibility of beneficiaries and cash involvement as to conclude approval formalities and give express order to payment of outstanding share of federal government “gratuity” to the affected employees of the state.
It should be noted also that the past administration of Mr Rotimi Amaechi, was unable to conclude issues to pay the “Federal Share of Gratuity” and even the unpaid six month pensions at the time due to the former governor’s preference in political adventure, to the detriment of civil service which he was elected to effectively supervise.
This tendency of flagrant disregard to the protection of the rights of pensioners indeed aroused the political consciousness of retirees in Rivers State to prefer the choice of Wike as Governor for Rivers State.
This was the reason why these aggrieved pensioners, demonstrated their preference for Wike’s governorship candidature and politically supported his campaign for votes, by embarking on the elongated civil demonstrations of 28th January, 2015 that lasted through the campaigns and eventual election to his subsequent inauguration as governor of Rivers State on 29th May, 2015.
Indeed, pensioners are therefore of the view and believe that Nyesom Wike will be responsive to accord administrative handling of pension affairs a priority in governance.
Tonye Fuayefika, a public affairs analyst writes from Port Harcourt.
Tonye Fuayefika
Opinion
Restoring Order, Delivering Good Governance
The political atmosphere in Rivers State has been anything but calm in 2025. Yet, a rare moment of unity was witnessed on Saturday, June 28, when Governor Siminalayi Fubara and Minister of the Federal Capital Territory, Chief Nyesom Wike, appeared side by side at the funeral of Elder Temple Omezurike Onuoha, Wike’s late uncle. What could have passed for a routine condolence visit evolved into a significant political statement—a symbolic show of reconciliation in a state bruised by deep political strife.
The funeral, attended by dignitaries from across the nation, was more than a moment of shared grief. It became the public reflection of a private peace accord reached earlier at the Presidential Villa in Abuja. There, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu brought together Governor Fubara, Minister Wike, the suspended Speaker of the Rivers State House of Assembly, Martin Amaewhule, and other lawmakers to chart a new path forward.
For Rivers people, that truce is a beacon of hope. But they are not content with photo opportunities and promises. What they demand now is the immediate lifting of the state of emergency declared in March 2025, and the unconditional reinstatement of Governor Fubara, Deputy Governor Dr. Ngozi Odu, and all suspended lawmakers. They insist on the restoration of their democratic mandate.
President Tinubu’s decision to suspend the entire structure of Rivers State’s elected leadership and appoint a sole administrator was a drastic response to a deepening political crisis. While it may have prevented a complete breakdown in governance, it also robbed the people of their voice. That silence must now end.
The administrator, retired naval chief Ibok-Ette Ibas, has managed a caretaker role. But Rivers State cannot thrive under unelected stewardship. Democracy must return—not partially, not symbolically, but fully. President Tinubu has to ensure that the people’s will, expressed through the ballot, is restored in word and deed.
Governor Fubara, who will complete his six-month suspension by September, was elected to serve the people of Rivers, not to be sidelined by political intrigues. His return should not be ceremonial. It should come with the full powers and authority vested in him by the constitution and the mandate of Rivers citizens.
The people’s frustration is understandable. At the heart of the political crisis was a power tussle between loyalists of Fubara and those of Wike. Institutions, particularly the State House of Assembly, became battlegrounds. Attempts were made to impeach Fubara. The situation deteriorated into a full-blown crisis, and governance was nearly brought to its knees.
But the tide must now turn. With the Senate’s approval of a record ?1.485 trillion budget for Rivers State for 2025, a new opportunity has emerged. This budget is not just a fiscal document—it is a blueprint for transformation, allocating ?1.077 trillion for capital projects alone. Yet, without the governor’s reinstatement, its execution remains in doubt.
It is Governor Fubara, and only him, who possesses the people’s mandate to execute this ambitious budget. It is time for him to return to duty with vigor, responsibility, and a renewed sense of urgency. The people expect delivery—on roads, hospitals, schools, and job creation.
Rivers civil servants, recovering from neglect and under appreciation, should also continue to be a top priority. Fubara should continue to ensure timely payment of salaries, address pension issues, and create a more effective, motivated public workforce. This is how governance becomes real in people’s lives.
The “Rivers First” mantra with which Fubara campaigned is now being tested. That slogan should become policy. It must inform every appointment, every contract, every budget decision, and every reform. It must reflect the needs and aspirations of the ordinary Rivers person—not political patrons or vested interests.
Beyond infrastructure and administration, political healing is essential. Governor Fubara and Minister Wike must go beyond temporary peace. They should actively unite their camps and followers to form one strong political family. The future of Rivers cannot be built on division.
Political appointments, both at the Federal and State levels, must reflect a spirit of fairness, tolerance, and inclusivity. The days of political vendettas and exclusive lists must end. Every ethnic group, every gender, and every generation must feel included in the new Rivers project.
Rivers is too diverse to be governed by one faction. Lasting peace can only be built on concessions, maturity, and equity. The people are watching to see if the peace deal will lead to deeper understanding or simply paper over cracks in an already fragile political arrangement.
Wike, now a national figure as Minister of the FCT, has a responsibility to rise above the local fray and support the development of Rivers State. His influence should bring federal attention and investment to the state, not political interference or division.
Likewise, Fubara should lead with restraint, humility, and a focus on service delivery. His return should not be marked by revenge or political purges but by inclusive leadership that welcomes even former adversaries into the process of rebuilding the state.
“The people are no longer interested in power struggles. They want light in their streets, drugs in their hospitals, teachers in their classrooms, and jobs for their children. The politics of ego and entitlement have to give way to governance with purpose.
The appearance of both leaders at the funeral was a glimpse of what unity could look like. That moment should now evolve into a movement-one that prioritizes Rivers State over every personal ambition. Let it be the beginning of true reconciliation and progress.
As September draws near, the Federal government should act decisively to end the state of emergency and reinstate all suspended officials. Rivers State must return to constitutional order and normal democratic processes. This is the minimum requirement of good governance.
The crisis in Rivers has dragged on for too long. The truce is a step forward, but much more is needed. Reinstating Governor Fubara, implementing the ?1.485 trillion budget, and uniting political factions are now the urgent tasks ahead. Rivers people have suffered enough. It is time to restore leadership, rebuild trust, and finally put Rivers first.
By: Amieyeofori Ibim
Amieyeofori Ibim is former Editor of The Tide Newspapers, political analyst and public affairs commentator
Opinion
Checking Herdsmen Rampage
Do the Fulani herdsmen have an expansionists agenda, like their progenitor, Uthman Dan Fodio? Why are they everywhere even the remotest part of other areas in Nigeria harassing, maiming, raping and killing the owners of the land?”
In a swift reaction, The Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP) decried and strongly condemned the invasion by suspected Fulani herdsmen.
In his denunciation, MOSOP President Fegalo Nsuke described the incident as very unfortunate and deeply troubling, warning against a recurrence of the violence experienced in Benue State. “The killing of yesterday is bad and very unfortunate. We are getting preliminary information about how the herders gained access to the farmland, and it appears some hoodlums may be collecting money and granting access illegally.”
He called on the Hausa community in Rivers State to intervene swiftly to prevent further attacks.
“We want the Hausa community in Rivers State to take urgent action to ensure these issues are resolved”.
But will such appeal and requests end the violent disposition of the Fulani herdsmen? It is not saying something new that the escalating threat and breach of peace across the country by the Fulani herdsmen or those suspected to be Fulani herdsmen, leaves much to be desired in a country that is bedevilled by multi-dimensional challenges and hydra-headed problems.
Some upland Local Government Areas of Rivers State, such as Etche, Omuma, Emohua, Ikwerre, Oyigbo, Abua, Ogba/Egbema/Ndoni, have severally recounted their ordeals, as herdsmen invaded farmlands, destroyed crops, raped female farmers and killed protestant residents.
Again the wanton destruction of lives and properties which no doubt has overwhelmed the Nigerian Police, makes the clamour for State Police, indispensable. The National Assembly should consider the amendment of the Constitution to allow States to have their Statutory policing agencies.
Opinion
Is Nigeria Democratic Nation?
As insurgency has risen to an all time high in the country were killings has now grown to be a normal daily activity in some part of the nation it may not be safe to say that Nigeria still practices democracy.
Several massacres coming from the Boko Haram and the herdsmen amongst all other insurgencies which have led to the destruction of homes and killing, burning of communities especially in the northern part of the country. All these put together are result of the ethnic battles that are fought between the tribes of Nigeria and this can be witnessed in Benue State where herders and farmers have been in constant clashes for ages. They have experienced nothing but casualties and unrest.
In the month of June 13-14, the Yelwata attack at the Guma Local Government Area by suspected gunmen or herdsmen who stormed the houses of innocent IDPs (Internally Displaced Persons) claiming the lives of families, both adults and children estimated to be 200 victims. They were all burnt alive by these unknown gunmen.
This has been recorded as one of the deadliest insurgencies that had happened in recent years. Some security personnel that were trying to fight the unknown gunmen also lost their lives.
Prior to the Yelewata attack, two days before the happening, similar conflict took place in Makurdi on June 11, 2025. 25 people were killed in the State. Even in Plateau State and the Southern Kaduna an attack also took place in the month of June.
All other states that make up the Middle Belt have been experiencing the farmers/herders clash for years now and it has persisted up till recent times, claiming lives of families and children, homes and lands, escalating in 2025 with coordinated assaults.
Various authorities and other villagers who fled for safety also blamed the herdsmen in the State for the attack that happened in Yelwata community.
Ehebha God’stime is an Intern with The Tide.
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