The House of Representatives has urged the Federal Government to promptly implement the approved pension increments and release all outstanding palliatives allocated to pensioners.

This directive was made during plenary as lawmakers addressed the continued hardship faced by senior citizens across the country.

The appeal was directed to key federal institutions including the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Humanitarian Services, the Office of the Accountant-General, the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), and the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD).

Presenting a motion of urgent national importance, Rep Ibrahim Ayokunle decried the dire living conditions of many pensioners, who he said are being forced to endure persistent suffering despite their years of service to the nation.

“Many pensioners across the country continue to suffer from inadequate income, inability to meet basic needs, and deteriorating health conditions due to these unresolved issues,” the motion read.

He recalled that in October 2023, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu had approved a N25,000 wage award as a palliative and an additional N32,000 increment for federal pensioners.

However, lawmakers expressed dismay that the implementation of these measures has largely stalled.

Ayokunle emphasized that the continued delay in executing these approved benefits undermines constitutional obligations related to citizens’ welfare and social justice.

“The non-implementation of approved pension increments and withholding of palliative measures undermine these constitutional principles and threaten social stability,” he stated.

The lawmaker also highlighted numerous unanswered petitions from pensioners and advocacy organizations, underscoring the urgency of government intervention.

“There is a need to uphold the dignity and welfare of our senior citizens,” he added.

Following deliberations, the House adopted a series of resolutions:

It requested the Ministry of Labour and Employment and the National Pension Commission to undertake a full audit of current pension payments.

It recommended establishing a dedicated task force to oversee the enforcement of pension-related policies and to handle grievances efficiently.

It urged state governments to follow the federal government’s lead in prioritizing pensioners’ welfare.

It encouraged collaboration between the Nigerian Pensioners’ Association and relevant government agencies to enhance oversight and advocacy efforts.

It also mandated its Committees on Finance, Pensions, Labour & Employment, Humanitarian Services, and Legislative Compliance to monitor and ensure the complete execution of these resolutions.

The Senate has moved forward with a legislative proposal aimed at formalizing the employment of domestic workers, apprentices, interns, and other informal sector employees in Nigeria.

The bill successfully passed second reading during plenary on Tuesday.

Sponsored by Senator Sani Musa (APC, Niger East), the bill, titled “A Bill for an Act to Regulate and Formalize the Employment of Domestic Workers, Apprenticeships, Interns and Other Informal Sector Employees and to Empower the National Directorate of Employment to Issue Licenses and Monitor Privately Owned Employment Agencies in Nigeria, and for Other Related Matters, 2025 (SB. 629),” seeks to introduce structured oversight in the informal employment landscape.

The legislation proposes empowering the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) to license and regulate privately run employment agencies.

These agencies would be required to register workers in a centralized database, ensure adherence to agreed terms and conditions, and guarantee social security coverage.

While leading the debate, Senator Musa emphasized the urgent need to address long-standing gaps in Nigeria’s informal labour market, which remains largely unregulated and often neglects workers’ welfare.

“The informal sector is often a residual labour market where income is not largely wage-dependent, working time is discretionary, and some jobs go unpaid,” Senator Musa said.

He stressed that the bill is aligned with global labour standards and seeks to improve working conditions across the informal sector.

“This bill is designed to correct the decent work deficit by promoting fair treatment, decent remuneration, and protection of workers’ rights in line with International Labour Organization (ILO) conventions to which Nigeria is a signatory.”

The bill also outlines clear criteria for employment agencies to qualify for licensing. These include full legal registration, transparent financial operations, and a clean compliance record.

Agencies must keep accurate records of staff and business operations, while designated NDE officers will be responsible for enforcement and compliance monitoring within their jurisdictions.

Senator Musa noted the bill’s potential to eliminate exploitative practices and provide a safety net for informal workers, who represent a significant portion of Nigeria’s workforce.

“This bill is a significant step toward formalizing the informal labour market and ensuring decent work conditions for millions of Nigerians. It also aims to improve data collection, workforce planning, and social security coverage for informal workers,” he added.

Senate President Godswill Akpabio subsequently referred the bill to the Senate Committee on Employment, Labour and Productivity for further legislative scrutiny. The committee is expected to return with its recommendations within six weeks.

If enacted, the bill is expected to introduce fairer employment practices, elevate job quality, and extend legal protections to workers across Nigeria’s vast informal sector.

Natives of Abuja, under the banner of the FCT Youth Stakeholders’ Forum, took to the National Assembly on Wednesday to protest the appointment of Mr Solomon Adodo, a native of Benue State, to the board of the newly established North Central Development Commission (NCDC).

They called on Senate President Godswil Akpabio to reverse the appointment.

The protesters carried placards bearing inscriptions such as “NCDC is not only for Benue State,” “Senator Akpabio don’t shortchange people of the FCT,” “Benue state has three representatives already,” and “Adodo is from Benue State,” among others.

Former Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Babachir Lawal, has criticized President Bola Tinubu’s meeting with Pope Leo XIV, calling it an affront to Christians in Nigeria.

Lawal, who appeared on Arise Television on Wednesday, argued that the President’s presence at the Vatican was likely arranged through lobbying and inducement, rather than being a diplomatic milestone.

“You know that going to see the Pope is just a matter of your lobby. How well you can lobby, how many friends you have out there in the Vatican that can lobby for you,” he said.

“So, it is not as if it’s a major achievement to visit the Pope on his inauguration. It can be arranged in advance by lobbyists, probably with the correct inducement. So, Bola Tinubu going to visit the Pope is a non issue.”

He further maintained that the act underscored his long-standing objection to the Muslim-Muslim ticket that brought Tinubu to power, suggesting that a Christian vice president should have led such a delegation.

“It reinforces my earlier belief that the Muslim-Muslim ticket is an insult to Christianity,” he said.

“Had there a senior Christian as a vice president, it’s only expected that he will be the one to represent the government.”

He questioned the optics of a Muslim president leading Catholics to the Vatican, stating, “But now in Nigeria, we have a so-called Muslim visiting the Pope, leading a delegation of and Catholics, eminent Catholics, to the Vatican. So it proves the fact that a Muslim, Muslim ticket is an unfair arrangement.”

Lawal had initially supported Tinubu’s presidential bid but withdrew his support after Tinubu selected fellow Muslim Kashim Shettima as his running mate.