A lawyer and public affairs analyst, Maxwell Opara, has called on the National Assembly to introduce legislation that would make the deliberate delay or denial of pension payments a criminal offence, arguing that retirees should not be forced to protest before receiving their legally earned entitlements.

Opara made the call during an interview with ARISE News on Thursday while reacting to concerns over the treatment of pensioners and prolonged delays in the payment of pensions and gratuities.

He argued that workers who had spent decades serving the country should be able to access their retirement benefits promptly after leaving active service, rather than repeatedly demanding payments they had already earned.

According to him, pension is not a favour from government but an entitlement arising from years of service.

He therefore urged lawmakers to strengthen the legal framework protecting retirees by introducing specific sanctions for institutions or officials responsible for unjustified delays in pension payments.

Opara said the absence of adequate consequences for delayed payments could allow the problem to persist, leaving elderly retirees to face financial hardship after years of contributing to the public service.

He also condemned the alleged use of tear gas against pensioners during protests, describing such action as a violation of their constitutional rights to peaceful assembly and expression.

The lawyer argued that security agencies should protect peaceful demonstrations rather than treat pensioners demanding their entitlements as threats.

He said officers deployed to pension protests should ensure that demonstrations were not hijacked by hoodlums while respecting the rights of the retirees taking part.

Opara further maintained that pensioners who believe their rights have been violated could approach the courts to seek enforcement of their fundamental rights.

He said evidence of alleged rights violations should be properly presented before the courts and insisted that denial by security agencies would not automatically absolve them of responsibility.

The public affairs analyst also expressed concern about the difficulties some retirees allegedly face before accessing their benefits, including repeated verification exercises and other administrative procedures.

He said the process should be made simpler and more transparent, particularly for elderly citizens who may lack the physical or financial capacity to repeatedly travel for verification.

Opara offered to provide free legal services to affected pensioners who wish to pursue lawful action over alleged violations of their rights.

He also called on the Nigerian Bar Association, the National Human Rights Commission and other public-interest lawyers to support retirees whose rights had allegedly been infringed upon.

The lawyer went further to say that, if elected to the House of Representatives, he would personally sponsor a bill seeking to criminalise the delay of pension payments.

He argued that introducing criminal sanctions would force relevant authorities to treat pension obligations with greater urgency and discourage unnecessary delays.

The issue of delayed pension payments has remained a longstanding concern among Nigerian retirees, with lawmakers and pension stakeholders having previously considered legislative and administrative measures aimed at improving access to retirement benefits.

In 2022, the Senate considered an amendment to the Pension Reform Act aimed at providing relief for retirees facing difficulties accessing their retirement savings and benefits. The proposal was presented against the backdrop of complaints that some retirees were experiencing prolonged hardship while waiting for their entitlements.

Opara’s latest call adds a stronger accountability dimension to the debate, as he wants deliberate or unjustified delays in pension payments to attract legal consequences.

He maintained that retirees who dedicated decades to public service deserve dignity in retirement and should not have to resort to street protests or lengthy legal battles simply to obtain money owed to them.

The call is likely to renew discussions about pension administration, retirees’ welfare and the responsibility of government institutions to ensure that pension obligations are settled promptly.