Introduction
COMFORT in old age is not a luxury but a necessity that defines the quality of life for elders. As physical strength wanes and emotional needs grow, a supportive environment becomes essential. Ensuring physical ease, emotional warmth, mental stimulation, and financial security preserves dignity and independence in later years.
How a society treats its elderly reflects its values, and investing in their well-being is a measure of collective humanity.
A robust pension system is crucial for safeguarding retired public servants’ dignity and security. After years of service, they deserve financial stability, independence and peace of mind.
It is a national disgrace that oath-swearing leaders undermine the Constitution for personal gain. Such leadership is unethical, self-serving, and corrosive to societal trust. A government that abandons its retirees signals that service and sacrifice mean nothing to those in power.
Pensions provide steady income, enabling retirees to meet basic needs and maintain a decent standard of living. Beyond individual welfare, strong pension schemes uphold the principle that national service should be valued and rewarded.
Constitutional Protection of Pension Rights: Section 210 and the Legal Gap
Section 210(1) of the Constitution states: “Subject to subsection (2), the right of a public servant to receive pension or gratuity shall be regulated by law.”
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Subsection (2) adds:“Any benefit under such law shall not be withheld or altered to the retiree’s disadvantage except as permitted by law, including the Code of Conduct.”
Previously, the Pension Act of 1990 applied uniformly across Nigeria. However, the Pension Reform Act of 2004 (effective June 25, 2004) dismantled this framework under Section 98(1)(a). States were required to either adopt the contributory pension scheme or retain separate laws for retirees under the old system.
This shift created a legal vacuum. While 30 states and the FCT enacted protective pension laws, six — Akwa Ibom, Borno, Cross River, Kwara, Plateau, and Yobe — failed to do so, jeopardizing retirees’ constitutional rights.
Betrayal by Law: Governors’ Moral Failure
In a democracy, the law should protect the vulnerable and uphold justice. Yet, in Akwa Ibom, Borno, Kwara, Plateau, and Yobe, governors have weaponized legislative inaction, betraying public servants who dedicated their careers to governance.
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While neglecting pension protections for retirees, they swiftly enacted laws securing lavish benefits for themselves and their deputies.
This selective morality reveals a stark injustice: political elites prioritize personal comfort over the welfare of those who sustained their administrations. Public servants, constitutionally entitled to pensions, face poverty and indignity in old age, while former governors enjoy luxury funded by public coffers.
The betrayal deepens when considering that these workers endured irregular salaries and lacked executive privileges, trusting in a dignified retirement. Instead, they confront bureaucratic delays or outright denial of pensions — due to leadership that refused to prioritize their welfare.
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Governors’ inaction violates Section 210, which prohibits withholding or altering pensions unfairly. By neglecting this duty while enriching themselves, they have perverted governance into self-service.
The governors of these five states stand condemned not only by the laws they passed but by those they ignored. Their betrayal exposes a moral failure — prioritizing self-interest over justice. True leadership requires fairness, sacrifice, and fidelity to the Constitution, not privilege at workers’ expense. Until corrective reforms prioritize all citizens, these leaders’ legacies will remain tarnished by legalized injustice and the suffering they enabled.
It is a national disgrace that oath-swearing leaders undermine the Constitution for personal gain. Such leadership is unethical, self-serving, and corrosive to societal trust. A government that abandons its retirees signals that service and sacrifice mean nothing to those in power.
Past and Present Governors of the Affected States
Akwa Ibom: Obong Victor Attah (1999–2007), Godswill Akpabio (2007–2015), Udom Emmanuel (2015–2023), Umo Eno (2023–present).
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Borno: Ali Modu Sheriff (2003–2011), Kashim Shettima (2011–2019), Babagana Zulum (2019–present).
Kwara: Bukola Saraki (2003–2011), Abdulfatah Ahmed (2011–2019), AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq (2019–present).
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Plateau: Joshua Dariye (1999–2007), Jonah Jang (2007–2015), Simon Lalong (2015–2023), Caleb Mutfwang (2023–present).
Yobe: Bukar Abba Ibrahim (1999–2007), Mamman Bello Ali (2007–2009), Ibrahim Geidam (2009–2019), Mai Mala Buni (2019–present).
Conclusion
The governors of these five states stand condemned not only by the laws they passed but by those they ignored. Their betrayal exposes a moral failure — prioritizing self-interest over justice.
True leadership requires fairness, sacrifice, and fidelity to the Constitution, not privilege at workers’ expense.
Until corrective reforms prioritize all citizens, these leaders’ legacies will remain tarnished by legalized injustice and the suffering they enabled.
Comrade Takor was a two-term President of NASU, a two-term National Treasurer of NLC and an inaugural member of the Board of PenCom. Comrade Takor retired as a Director in federal service and is now a Lagos-based legal practitioner. He is an alumnus of the National Institute of Policy and Strategic Studies (NIPSS), Kuru-Jos, Plateau State. He is currently the Vice Chairman/Chairman Human Rights Committee of Nigerian Bar Association (NBA), Epe Branch.
