Retired workers in Oyo State have expressed profound gratitude to Governor Seyi Makinde for approving an upward adjustment of pensions, significantly improving their welfare. The pensioners, operating under the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Oyo State Council, commended the governor for implementing the review, which has positioned Oyo State retirees as the highest-paid state pensioners in Nigeria.
In addition, the South-West Zonal Council of the NUP also applauded Governor Makinde for the pension adjustments, which include a minimum pension payment of ₦25,000 for the least-paid retirees. The review incorporates the 33% pension increase from 2010, the 2019 consequential adjustment, a 20% pension increment, and a portion of the ₦32,000 minimum wage adjustment for all Oyo State pensioners.
The South-West NUP conveyed their appreciation in a letter dated February 12, 2025, signed by the zonal chairman, Waidi Oloyede, and secretary, Sunday Akin. The union acknowledged the governor’s commitment to improving retirees’ living standards and ensuring their financial stability.
During an appreciation rally held in honor of the governor, the Secretary of the NUP, Oyo State Council, Olusegun Abatan, praised Governor Makinde for transforming the plight of pensioners in the state. He recounted how, upon assuming office in 2019, the governor immediately addressed long-standing issues, including the payment of gratuities that had been withheld for eight years. Additionally, Makinde ensured that pensions were paid promptly on the 25th of every month and, most recently, approved the much-needed pension review—a demand that previous administrations had ignored.
Abatan reflected on the struggles pensioners faced before Makinde’s tenure, stating: “For 16 years before you took office, Oyo State pensioners suffered under governments that showed no sympathy or empathy toward their plight. Gratuities were delayed indefinitely, pensions were either withheld or paid in fragments, and all appeals to past governments were ignored. This neglect led to the untimely deaths of many of our members. At one point, Oyo State pensioners were mockingly referred to as ‘the dead,’ and indeed, we were dying in large numbers like chickens afflicted by disease. When you first ran for office, we simply wanted a leader who would free us from this suffering, and we voted overwhelmingly for you. We repeated our support when you sought re-election, knowing you would continue to prioritize our welfare.”
In response, Governor Makinde, represented by the Deputy Governor, Abdulraheem Bayo Lawal, reaffirmed his administration’s dedication to the well-being of retirees and its commitment to enhancing their quality of life. He expressed appreciation for the pensioners’ show of gratitude, acknowledging that such gestures were rare in governance.
The governor emphasized the importance of prioritizing retirees who had devoted 35 years of service to the state’s development. He disclosed that in 2019, the accumulated gratuities and pension arrears inherited from previous administrations stood at approximately ₦61 billion. However, his government has made significant progress in reducing this debt and pledged to clear the remaining balance before the end of his second term in May 2027.
Governor Makinde further explained the rationale behind the pension adjustments, stating: “What we have done as an administration is to assess the socio-economic realities and determine a living pension that ensures our retirees can meet their basic needs. Before now, some pensioners were receiving as little as ₦350 to ₦1,000 monthly, with the last review occurring during the tenure of former Governor Adebayo Alao-Akala. Since then, no administration had taken steps to improve their pensions until now. We have now established what we believe is a fair and sustainable pension structure, one that truly supports our pensioners in their retirement years.”
The event marked a historic moment, as pensioners—who had endured years of neglect—publicly celebrated a government that had finally addressed their long-standing grievances. The governor’s reforms have not only restored dignity to Oyo State retirees but have also set a benchmark for pension administration in Nigeria.
