By Amos Aar
THE BENUE State Council of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) has issued a 14-day ultimatum to the Benue State Government to clear outstanding pension arrears, threatening to embark on a peaceful protest if their demands are not met.
In a statement jointly signed by the State Chairman, Comrade Michael Vembe, and the Secretary, Comrade Saater Nyamgen, the pensioners warned that failure to act before January 21, 2026, would compel them to mobilise retirees from all 23 local government areas for a two-day peaceful protest in Makurdi on January 22 and 23, 2026, TheWill reports.
The union accused the state government of owing pensioners a total of 138 months (11 years, five months) in unpaid pensions and gratuities inherited from previous administrations. This includes 96 months of arrears owed to local government pensioners and 42 months owed to state pensioners.
The pensioners further alleged discrimination in the recent payment of arrears approved by Governor Hyacinth Alia, noting that while five months’ arrears were paid to state pensioners, their counterparts at the local government level were excluded from the exercise.
They also demanded the harmonisation of pensions in Benue State and called for the implementation of a minimum monthly pension of N32,000 in line with Federal Government directives and the N70,000 Minimum Wage Act of 2024.
According to the union, some retirees currently earn as little as N2,000 per month, while others who retired more recently receive over N300,000 monthly.
Copies of the statement, TheWill newspaper reports, were forwarded to the Secretary to the State Government, the Head of Service and other relevant authorities, with the union urging urgent intervention to avert the planned protest.
The development marks a sharp contrast from the position earlier taken by the same pensioners.
On January 21, 2025, the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Benue State Chapter, had pledged to use their one-month pension to purchase a governorship nomination form for Governor Alia ahead of the 2027 elections; a pledge that was also reported by Leadership Newspaper.
At the time, Comrade Vembe made the pledge during the presentation of a letter of commendation to the Chief Medical Director of the Benue State University Teaching Hospital (BSUTH), Dr Stephen Hwande, for initiating free medical services for pensioners in the state.
He described the gesture as a way of appreciating the governor for what he termed “bringing pensioners back to life” after years of neglect.
Despite the earlier goodwill and public support, the union now insists that the continued delay in settling pension arrears has left retirees with no option but to resort to peaceful protest to press home their demands.
