Pensioners of the defunct National Electric Power Authority (NEPA) and Power Holding Company of Nigeria (PHCN) in Benin City, Edo State, have protested over what they described as the prolonged non-payment of their outstanding pensions and other retirement entitlements.
The retirees are demanding urgent intervention from the Federal Government and the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD), alleging that their accumulated entitlements have remained unpaid for about 25 years.
Speaking on behalf of the protesting pensioners, Alile Osakioduwa alleged that the outstanding obligations owed to affected retirees had risen to more than N350 billion.
According to him, the pensioners had continued to wait for payments despite their repeated appeals to the authorities.
“We have been asking for this payment, which the Federal Government has released. Putting everything together, it’s over N350 billion that they are now owing us,” Osakioduwa said.
The retirees further alleged that funds had been released by the Federal Government to PTAD to settle some of the outstanding obligations but that the payments had yet to reach beneficiaries.
The development comes amid renewed complaints by NEPA/PHCN pensioners over delays in settling their accrued benefits. In July 2026, the pensioners threatened nationwide protests over the alleged delay in the disbursement of more than N350 billion in pension arrears.
Earlier in August, the retirees also called for an investigation into the alleged delay, claiming that funds had been made available to PTAD since May 2026.
The pensioners have maintained that many retirees have endured severe financial hardship while waiting for their outstanding benefits, with some reportedly dying before receiving the money they claim is due to them.
However, PTAD has previously rejected allegations that it is withholding a lump sum of N350 billion belonging to the pensioners. The agency said outstanding arrears exist but questioned how the pensioners arrived at the N350 billion figure, insisting that payments would be made based on verified entitlements.
The latest protest has therefore renewed calls for the government to clarify the status of the alleged funds, publish details of the outstanding liabilities and ensure that verified entitlements are paid to eligible retirees.
The pensioners are appealing for urgent action, saying they have waited long enough for the benefits accrued from their years of service to the nation’s electricity sector.
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