Osun retirees protest, demand N18,000 minimum wage compliance

By Deborah Oladejo, Osogbo

Retired public servants in Osun State, under the banner of the Forum of 2011/2012 Retired Public Servants, have appealed to Governor Ademola Adeleke to comply with a court order mandating a minimum wage of N18,000 for pensioners.

Denied permission to protest at the state secretariat gate in Abere, Osogbo, the retirees took to the streets of Osogbo to continue their peaceful demonstration.

The protesters, who gathered at Ogo-Oluwa/Abere road in Osogbo, expressed frustration with the government’s failure to comply with a ruling by the Industrial Court in October 2017.

Comrade Yemi Lawal, leader of the group, explained that their efforts to engage with the government through written letters and press conferences had been met with silence.

“This is not our first protest. Since 2014, we have been fighting for our entitlements to align with the N18,000 minimum wage. Unfortunately, the government has only paid us N9,000,” he said.

He further explained that despite winning their case in court, the government delayed action by filing an appeal in 2021, which was dismissed on February 7, 2024.

Lawal warned of potential unrest if the government continues to disregard the court order.

“Our demand is simple: the government must calculate and pay the difference between N9,000 and N18,000, which is long overdue. We will not stop our agitation until this is done,” he concluded.

He also called on the Attorney General of the Federation to intervene, urging the state government to respect the court’s judgment and avoid contempt.