Retirees of the defunct Federal Mortgage Finance Limited (FMFL) have accused the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) of failing to pay the pensions of some verified retirees more than a year after the agency commenced payments.

Speaking at a press briefing in Lagos, Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria (FMBN)/FMFL Unit, Lagos Zone, Raphael Akinniranye, said the affected retirees participated in PTAD’s verification exercise conducted between August and October 2024, but had yet to be enrolled for payment despite repeated appeals to the agency.

Akinniranye explained that the retirees served both the Federal Mortgage Bank of Nigeria and the defunct Federal Mortgage Finance Limited following the deconsolidation of the institution in the early 1990s. He added that while many verified retirees had begun receiving their pensions, about 12 others remained unpaid.

According to him, the union had made several visits to PTAD over the outstanding payments and was repeatedly assured that the omission would be corrected.

“I led them to PTAD to lodge complaints. They apologised and said it was an omission that would be corrected within two months. Two months became six months, and six months became one year; yet they have still not been paid,” he said.

The union chairman said many of the affected retirees were in their 80s and 90s, with some battling blindness and other health conditions. He lamented that some pensioners had died while waiting for their entitlements.

“How can people in their 80s and 90s, some physically challenged and others blind, still be waiting for pensions they earned? They should be paid while they are alive to enjoy the fruit of their labour,” he said.

Akinniranye warned that the union would take its protest to PTAD’s headquarters in Abuja if the outstanding pensions were not paid within one month.

One of the affected retirees, Theophilus Olurinde, described the prolonged delay as unjust, saying pensioners had continued to endure hardship despite dedicating decades of service.

“How can somebody wait for his entitlement for as long as 30 years and still not be paid? There have been challenges all the way, but we are not asking for anything extra. We are asking for what we worked for. This is the fruit of our labour, and we want to receive it before we die,” he said.

Speaking on behalf of her mother, Comfort Olarinde said she had participated in PTAD’s verification exercise and that the Federal Mortgage Bank had provided the letter of introduction requested by the agency, yet she had remained unpaid.

She said the delay had caused her mother great concern after years of dedicated service to the organisation.

Another retiree, Morenike Babalola, said she had waited 31 years to receive her pension and was currently battling a stroke.

“I have retired for 31 years and have not been paid. I am battling stroke and need money to take care of myself. Is it when I die that they will pay my entitlement?” she said.

Godwin Ijezie and other affected pensioners appealed to the Federal Government and PTAD to immediately pay their outstanding pension entitlements, stressing that many retirees were battling age-related illnesses and should not have to wait any longer to receive the benefits they worked for.