We can’t survive on pension alone- Retirees

Retirees have said that they cannot survive on pension alone as they need another source of income to meet their needs.

Speaking separately, some of the retirees said it is impossible for most pensioners in Nigeria to survive on their meagre pensions without either being supported by family members or side businesses.

Speaking exclusively to Daily Trust, Mr. John Ekene revealed that his monthly pension would hardly keep him going for half of the month.

Ekene, who is a member of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, said his monthly pension is below the current N30, 000 minimum pension recently approved by the Federal Government.

“Sometimes, I’m ashamed to tell people what I earn as pension every month. Nobody can survive on it alone,” he

said.

The retiree, who now operates a retail shop, said his business has been sustaining him more than the pension.

“I am happy whenever I get my monthly pension. In fact, I rejoice whenever I hear the alert. But I don’t know what life would have been if I had retired to my bed room putting all my hope on my pension,” he said.

Similarly, a retiree, Mrs Ugah Regina, said she retired early from active service and her pension is currently not enough to meet her needs.

Mrs Regina said she started working immediately after her secondary school and that resulted in her early retirement.

She said she is looking for another employment to augment her pension and also keep her busy.

Meanwhile, a retired civil servant, Salisu Dambatta, said there are many economic activities that can help retirees remain financially stable in retirement.

“You can do a lot of things as a retiree to make money. If you were a catering officer, you can open a small restaurant. You can tap the value chain of various crops. You can process grains. You can become a butcher, selling meat to your neighbours. They will buy,” he said.

He said some retirees can also go into farming if they have the strength and land to do so and prosper.

He said retired teachers could approach private schools and still teach on contract basis or even go back to the classrooms to study further.

“You can go back to school. I went to ABU and did my Masters Degree in Strategic Communication and concluded it. I didn’t sit down doing nothing after my retirement. People can do it. No one should sit down and think monthly pension is enough,” he said.