Osun State Governor, Ademola Adeleke, has approved the release of ₦4 billion to pay the retirement benefits of workers who retired under the Contributory Pension Scheme.
Adeleke made the announcement on Thursday during the 2025 Workers’ Day celebration held in Osogbo, where labour leaders also presented fresh requests to the governor, including car and housing loans.
Speaking at the rally, the chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress in the state, Christopher Arapasopo, and his Trade Union Congress counterpart, Abimbola Fasasi, praised Adeleke’s efforts and pledged workers’ support for his re-election.
In his speech, Adeleke listed some of his achievements for workers and pensioners. He said his administration is focused on its five-point agenda, with workers’ welfare as the top priority, The PUNCH reports.
“In all we do, we care for workers and pensioners. I have just approved, through the Office of the Head of Service, the payment of bonds for retirees under the contributory pension scheme worth over N4b. This is across the State and Local Governments.
“I have equally approved, through the Office of the Head of Service, the commencement of the promotion exercises for Year 2025 for eligible officers and staff across the entire public service, including the Local Governments.
“As I speak, the April 2025 salaries and allowances have been paid to all categories of workers across the State. We have continued unabated, the payment of a 30-month backlog of half salaries. As a matter of fact, we have almost completed payment of the 30 months’ half salaries in respect of contributory pensioners,” he said.
Earlier, NLC chairman Arapasopo said Adeleke had met most of the workers’ demands in less than three years and deserved another term. He also asked the governor to appoint more permanent secretaries, fill civil service vacancies, and provide more training for workers.
He added that labour leaders need official vehicles to help them do their work properly, The PUNCH reports.
He said, “Less than 3 years, Mr. Governor has attended to almost all workers’ requests in Osun State. In fact, your governance is unprecedented. You will emphatically believe with me that Mr. Governor deserves a second term in office as the Executive Governor of Osun State till 2030.
“Housing and Motor Vehicle Refurbishing Loan: We immensely appreciate you sir for setting up a committee on the above subject matter based on our last request. We, therefore, humbly remind Your Excellency of the further commitments that will ensure that Osun State workers benefit from these loan schemes.”
He said, “We, the leadership of the labour movement in Osun State, with the overwhelming mandate of our people do hereby say today 1st of May, 2025 that come 2026 as far as the occupancy of the Bola Ige house is concerned, ‘There is no vacancy and on your mandate we shall stand.’”
