“Financial Stability”: A Nightmare for Retired Healthcare Professionals in Southwestern Nigeria: An Interpretative Phenomenology

TL;DR

Retired healthcare professionals in Southwestern Nigeria face financial instability due to delayed pension payments, leading them to seek alternative income sources.

Contribution

This study provides a qualitative exploration of financial instability among retired healthcare professionals in Nigeria using interpretative phenomenology.

Findings

Retirees experience delays of 6 to 15 months in pension payments, causing financial instability.

Alternative income sources like petty trading and livestock-rearing are adopted to cope with financial instability.

Financial security is identified as crucial for a peaceful retirement.

Abstract

The transition from work to retirement has been an issue of lively scientific discussion for many and is driven by the constant fear of what is going to happen to their financial stability because of a history of delayed pension payments. Budgetary constraints by the Federal Government led to delays in paying pension benefits. Pension Commission (PenCom) works to ensure adequate budgetary provisions and timely release of funds to reduce the backlog in payments. Many retirees lack proper retirement and financial planning while PenCom continues to emphasize the importance of planning for retirement to ensure financial security.

This study was conducted to explore the financial stability of healthcare professionals postretirement, in Nigeria.

An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA) design was utilized. The study population consisted of retirees who were 2 years old or older from three tertiary institutions in purposively selected states in Southwestern Nigeria. After obtaining consent, an in-depth interview and focused group discussion (FGD) were used to collect data. Both interviews and FGD were audio recorded, transcribed verbatim, and analysis followed, IPA steps by
Smith et al. This was there after being imported into NVivo version 12.

Respondents thought they were financially prepared for retirement, however, the delay of 6 to 15 months before the pension payout was unforeseen. Retirees opted for alternative means of income, like petty trading, Tuck shops, molding blocks, livestock-rearing goats, and working in private institutions. An emerging theme of “Financial instability” and three subthemes: alternate income; flexi-work and exploring hidden talents. Financial security is the key to a peaceful retirement.

Employees need to be prepared for retirement by having multiple sources of funding to enjoy a peaceful retirement

Figures