A youth advocate, Ceekay Alden, has advocated a seamless system for pension disbursement in the country.
In a statement, Alden said the well-being of the elderly people was of utmost priority, noting that it was a moral obligation.
He said, “As an individual, I want to make it clear that the care and well-being of our elderly will always be a priority for me should I ever be in a position of power. It is a moral obligation, not just a policy decision. In the next few years, Nigeria must enact a seamless system for pension disbursement, one that is transparent, easily accessible, and timely, so that our elderly do not continue to suffer in silence. The government must ensure that our pension system is reformed to meet the needs of all retirees, without unnecessary delays.”
The youth advocate stated that in a time when Nigeria was striving to emerge stronger, the country could not afford to leave behind those who had already contributed so much to our journey.
He advocated, “Let us not wait for more tragedies to spark change. Let us act now to ensure that our elders receive the respect, care, and dignity they deserve while they are still with us. This is not just a policy; it is a measure of our humanity. The Nigerian government must urgently prioritise the welfare of our elderly citizens, whose years of labour and service to this nation should be honoured with dignity and care. In a country like ours, where the elderly have been the backbone of our society, it is deeply concerning that many struggle to access their pensions, an issue that affects thousands of retirees across the nation.
Too many have been forced to endure long delays, bureaucratic hurdles, and, in some cases, complete negligence in receiving what is rightfully theirs.
“As of February 2025, countless pensioners have taken to social media, protesting the inhumane conditions they face while trying to access their hard-earned benefits. In the last year alone, reports from the Nigerian Union of Pensioners highlighted that many retirees had gone months without receiving their pensions, often leading to needless suffering for those who are already vulnerable due to age and health conditions. This is unacceptable. The elderly are not just numbers in a system; they are the mothers, fathers, aunts, uncles, and grandparents who have contributed to the building of this great nation.
“One tragic example is that of Mrs. Theresa Okafor, a retired school teacher from Lagos, who, after years of working tirelessly to educate generations of Nigerian children, spent over a year waiting for her pension. She passed away in 2023 without ever seeing a single penny of the pension she was entitled to. Stories like hers are all too common, and they should stir a sense of responsibility in every one of us. If our government truly seeks to build a nation that thrives, it must begin by protecting those who have already given so much to it.”
