The Minister of State for Finance, Dr Doris Uzoka-Anite, has reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s commitment to pension reforms, highlighting his understanding of the challenges faced by pensioners.

The Minister made the remarks during the launch of the revised Service Charter for the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate in Abuja on Wednesday.

This assurance follows persistent protests by pensioners in Abuja and Lagos over unpaid arrears and N35,000 palliative allowances.

In her address, Uzoka-Anite reflected on the significant improvements brought by pension reforms, which, she said, gave workers across Nigeria renewed hope.

She noted that the reform provided workers in both the public and private sectors with “lifetime insurance,” ensuring that they would have financial security after retirement.

She added that the pension scheme had become a vital part of workers’ financial plans, particularly as it offered a reliable alternative when facing economic challenges.

The Minister also addressed the government’s ongoing efforts to secure and grow pension funds.

“We’ve been working with PENCOM to ensure that pension funds are not only invested securely but also leveraged to drive economic development,” Uzoka-Anite said, underscoring the importance of pension assets in national growth.

She expressed gratitude towards Tinubu for his leadership in addressing pension liabilities, with a focus on clearing outstanding pension payments.

Uzoka-Anite revealed that the government has plans to issue N758bn bond to clear these liabilities, a step she described as crucial in securing the future of pensioners.

The Minister reiterated that the issue of pensioners not receiving their dues promptly must come to an end.

“It breaks our hearts every time we see pensioners come to demand their pensions. It shouldn’t be like that. If you worked and gave your best years to your country, the least we can do is give you your best years when you retire,” she said.

Uzoka-Anite also praised the work of PTAD and its leadership, emphasising that pensioners now had a system in place that they could rely on.

“We want pensioners to know that it is now a thing of the past that they have to cry before they see their money,” she assured.

The minister reaffirmed that the government, under President Tinubu’s leadership, is fully committed to pension reform.

“The President understands the pain of being a pensioner. He was a pensioner first before we gave him a mandate to come back. He’s a man who has empathy for the suffering of the people,” she stated.

Also speaking at the event, the Director General of the National Pension Commission, Ms Omolola Oloworaran, expressed deep commitment to ensuring the welfare of pensioners.

“There is no greater honour than making an impact in the life of those who have given their all to this nation,” she stated, underscoring the importance of helping pensioners retire with dignity.

She highlighted the significance of the service charter as a renewed promise to pensioners, emphasising that their welfare is central to PenCom’s mission.

“It is more than a document; it’s a renewed commitment to our senior citizens,” she said.

Oloworaran also noted recent achievements, including the approval of long-outstanding arrears and the introduction of healthcare for pensioners.

She stressed that these initiatives are “life-changing” and will positively impact the lives of many households.

She reaffirmed PenCom’s commitment to ensuring pensioners’ dignity, transparency, and respect in retirement.

In her welcome remarks, the Executive Secretary of the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate, Tolulope Odunaiya, reaffirmed the organisation’s commitment to enhancing service delivery for pensioners.

“I am truly honoured to stand before you today at the official launch of our second edition of the Service Charter,” she began, noting that the event symbolised PTAD’s collective commitment to “entrenching excellence and beneficial impact in service delivery.

”The Executive Secretary stressed that the revised Service Charter is “more than a document,” calling it a “covenant” between PTAD, pensioners, and stakeholders.

The revised charter, she explained, includes realistic performance metrics, a renewed commitment to quality, and clearer accessibility for all pensioners.

“Our goal is to ensure you clearly understand your entitlements and the standards you can expect from us,” she added.

The National President of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Godwin Abumisi, expressed both gratitude and frustration at the state of pension administration in Nigeria during the launch of the revised Service Charter.

“I recognise the struggles we faced in collecting our pensions. Many of us died while trying to rectify issues with our pensions,” Abumisi said, reflecting on the past challenges pensioners faced during verification exercises.

He acknowledged the positive strides made by PTAD, stating, “We have left Egypt, but we are not yet at the promised land.”

While commending PTAD for its work, Abumisi highlighted that many pensioners, particularly in remote areas, still face difficulties with verification.

“Many of them do not have phones, and cannot complete this exercise without assistance,” he said, urging authorities to reach out to those left behind.

Abumisi concluded by thanking President Tinubu for his empathy towards pensioners, vowing that come 2027, pensioners would rally behind him.

“I wish to thank the president of Nigeria for his empathy for the pensioners of Nigeria.

We are seeing all that is needed to ensure that pensioners of Nigeria raise their heads above the water, and I want to make a promise that come 2027, we will direct all pensioners to vote for him,” he said.

The Kebbi State Police Command has said it exhumed a baby buried alive in Kebbi State.

Public Relations Officer, CSP Nafiu Abubakar, in a statement, said a farmer, Alhaji Kabiru Muhammad, while working on his farm near the area, discovered a patch of disturbed soil resembling a fresh grave.

“He raised an alarm and, with the help of nearby residents, exhumed the baby, who was found alive.

The infant was rushed to General Hospital, Kamba, where doctors confirmed her condition as stable after receiving medical attention.”

The statement further added that, following investigation, the police promptly arrested a 20-year-old mother, Maryam Atiku, for allegedly attempting to kill her newborn baby girl by burying her alive in Kamba, Dandi Local Government Area of Kebbi State.

It said the incident occurred on June 25, 2025, when Maryam allegedly tied the baby’s neck with wrappers, covered her mouth, and buried her in a shallow grave at Malam Yaro bush.

Commissioner of Police Bello Sani described the act as “inhuman and unacceptable,” reiterating the command’s zero tolerance for child abuse, exploitation, and gender-based violence.

He urged parents, guardians, and community leaders to protect children under their care and not compromise their future due to poverty or other pressures, even as he commended the wife of the Kebbi State Governor, Hajiya Zainab Nasir Idris, for supporting the welfare of the rescued baby and praised Alhaji Kabiru Muhammad for his timely intervention.

“The suspect will be arraigned in court, where she will face prosecution aimed at serving as a deterrent to others,” the statement further said.

The Management of Dangote Industries Limited, (DIL), has clarified that the truck involved in the recent accident in Enugu State is not owned by the Dangote Group.

Investigations have revealed that the vehicle belongs to Visco Investment Global Limited, a third-party operator.

In a statement, the Dangote Group said ,” We are actively engaging with the appropriate agencies to determine why the truck in question was bearing our logo, despite not being part of our fleet.

Moving forward, increased scrutiny will be applied to the unauthorised use of our brand identity, particularly the misuse of our logo on vehicles not affiliated with the Group.

While it is our policy not to comment publicly on individual cases, we are compelled to address the increasing spread of misinformation by attributing such incidents to the Dangote Group without any substantiated evidence.

We urge the public and media to refrain from circulating unverified claims.

We remain committed to cooperating fully with the relevant authorities and urge that those tasked with investigating incidents of this nature be allowed to carry out their responsibilities without undue interference.

We categorically reject any attempt to exploit such tragedies for malicious or financial gain.

The Dangote Group remains steadfast in upholding the highest standards of corporate responsibility, safety, and integrity in all our operations.”