Tinubu Urges Future Governments to Preserve Minimum Pension Guarantee Permanently

President Bola Tinubu has challenged future Nigerian administrations not to abolish or reverse the newly activated Minimum Pension Guarantee, calling it a permanent commitment between the state and workers.

He said the guarantee had remained unimplemented for 22 years despite being included in successive Pension Reform Acts, and described it as a statutory right rather than a discretionary benefit any government could withdraw.

“To every administration that comes after me, hear me clearly. This floor is now part of a compact between the Nigerian state and the Nigerian worker. Raise it, but never remove the floor.”

Tinubu was represented by Senate President Godswill Akpabio at the launch of the Presidential Pension Security Initiative in Abuja, where he said the scheme marked a significant step toward strengthening retirement security in Nigeria.

He directed future administrations to preserve the minimum pension threshold, stating they could increase it but must never remove the floor.

The guarantee is designed to ensure eligible retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme do not receive pensions below a prescribed minimum threshold.

Tinubu noted that Section 71 of the Pension Reform Act 2004 and Sections 82 and 84 of the 2014 Act provided for the guarantee and a fund to finance it, adding that no naira had been paid under the provision until now.

His administration has now activated the scheme, and he stressed that retirement security should be treated as an enforceable entitlement.