President Bola Tinubu has introduced a monthly income floor of N52,500 for 173,209 retirees, aiming to fulfill a legal provision that had remained unimplemented for over two decades. The initiative, launched at the State House Banquet Hall in Abuja, also includes a healthcare scheme for low-income pensioners. According to Premium Times, the president described the move as a correction of previous administrative failures, stating that a law never implemented is effectively a "lie with a stamp on it." The National Pension Commission will oversee the scheme, which takes effect immediately under the Contributory Pension Scheme.
In a separate address at the All Progressives Congress rally in Dutse, Jigawa State, Tinubu focused on energy infrastructure and industrial growth. Vanguard reported that the president criticized the existing privatization model for power distribution, promising instead to provide reliable electricity without relying solely on private sector management. He pledged to strengthen the industrial base and support nano, micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises to reduce the cost of living. Punch noted that the rally served as a key platform for outlining the party's priorities ahead of the 2027 general election, with Tinubu emphasizing productivity and food security.
The president also inaugurated four multi-billion naira projects in Jigawa State, which he said aligned with his administration's focus on skills development and agricultural research. These projects, located within the Dutse metropolis, were virtually inaugurated alongside Vice-President Kashim Shettima and state officials. Tinubu argued that fiscal savings from the removal of fuel subsidies and the unification of the foreign exchange rate had been redirected to states and citizens. He challenged political opponents to compare their past delivery records against his administration's achievements in pension and economic reforms.
The pension launch and power pledges occur as the All Progressives Congress intensifies its campaign efforts. The minimum pension guarantee targets retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme, while the PenCare initiative provides free essential healthcare for low-income pensioners. Tinubu's administration posits that these measures address longstanding concerns about retirement income and healthcare access, distinguishing the current government's approach from previous administrations that left the legal guarantee unenforced.