Retirees of the Nigerian Ports Authority have threatened to shut down seaports nationwide over more than 16 years of unpaid pension benefits.

The warning was issued by the Nigerian Ports Authority Pensioners Welfare Association, which said it would begin a nationwide protest within seven days if its demands are not met.

The association’s president, Charles Ayo Binitie, said the action was prompted by the failure of NPA management to implement the constitutionally mandated five-year pension increment, which he said had not been applied since 2008.

“It is sad and regrettable to say the least, that amid the present high inflation rate and economic downturn in Nigeria, only a few NPA retirees receive up to N100,000, while more than 50 percent of them earn between N50,000 and as low as N30,000 monthly,” Binitie said.

He added that the current pension structure falls short of provisions under Section 173(3) of the constitution, which guarantees periodic increases in pension payments.

According to him, repeated efforts by the association to resolve the issue have yielded no results. He said the group had written to the National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission and the presidency through the secretary to the government of the federation, but no action had been taken.

“The NPA is yet to furnish the Wages Commission with its documents for over 15 years now, so that the necessary upward review can be made,” he said.

Binitie also dismissed claims of factional disputes within the association, noting that internal disagreements had been resolved through court rulings, including a Lagos High Court judgement and a September 2025 decision by an Apapa magistrate court affirming his leadership.

He said the association now speaks with one voice, stressing that the economic hardship faced by retirees has become unbearable.

The group called on the federal government and relevant authorities to compel the NPA to settle all outstanding benefits, including pension increments tied to the 2024 minimum wage.