Pension Row in Oyo: Retirees Threaten Protests, Exposing Institutional Insubordination
The Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Oyo State Council, has issued a stark warning, threatening an indefinite protest against the managements of Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, and Emmanuel Alayande University of Education, Oyo. This move comes in response to the alleged defiance of Governor Seyi Makinde's directive on pension increases, a matter that has sparked a heated debate within the state.
The state secretary of the union, Segun Abatan, accused the chief executive officers of state-owned tertiary institutions of acting in defiance of the governor's authority. He highlighted a series of directives issued by Governor Makinde in January 2025, which approved a minimum monthly pension of N25,000 for the least-paid pensioners, effective January 2025. Additionally, the governor directed the incorporation of all outstanding pension increases, including a 33% pension increase approved in 2010, a 2019 consequential adjustment, a 20% pension increase effective January 2024, and a N17,500 increase effective August 2024, into the pensions of eligible retirees.
Abatan's statement revealed a pattern of non-compliance from the institutions in question. He noted that while some institutions, such as the Oyo State College of Education, Lanlate, and Adeseun Ogundoyin Polytechnic, Eruwa, eventually complied with the directive, others, notably LAUTECH Teaching Hospital and Emmanuel Alayande University of Education, failed to do so. The secretary alleged that these institutions initially refused to comply, waiting for a formal circular before taking action, despite the governor's directive being implemented by other government agencies.
The union's frustration stems from the management's perceived arrogance and insensitivity. Abatan criticized the managements of LAUTECH Teaching Hospital and Emmanuel Alayande University of Education for their refusal to implement the approved pension adjustments, describing it as an act of insubordination against the state government. He also pointed out that these institutions promptly complied with Makinde's directives to pay N50,000 Christmas and New Year bonuses to pensioners in 2025 and the three-month N10,000 fuel subsidy relief, without demanding any enabling circular.
The union's response to this situation is a mass protest, involving affected pensioners, retirees from ministries, departments, and agencies, as well as retired primary school teachers and local government pensioners. Abatan emphasized that the protests will continue daily until the demands are met, and he has called for the intervention of the Nigeria Labour Congress to declare a three-day warning strike in both institutions.
This pension row highlights a deeper issue of institutional insubordination and the power dynamics between government directives and the actions of state-owned institutions. It raises questions about the effectiveness of governance and the treatment of pensioners in the state. As the protests escalate, the outcome will likely have significant implications for the relationship between the state government and these institutions, as well as the well-being of the affected pensioners.
In my opinion, this situation underscores the importance of transparency and accountability in governance. It also highlights the need for a more responsive and responsible approach from state-owned institutions, especially when it comes to the welfare of pensioners. The union's actions serve as a reminder that even the most senior members of society deserve respect and fair treatment, and that those in positions of power must be held accountable for their decisions and actions.
