Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State has approved a N4 billion bond to support the payment of retirees enrolled under the state’s contributory pension scheme. The announcement was made on Thursday during the 2025 Workers’ Day celebration, held at Fakunle High School in Osogbo.
The newly approved bond is aimed at settling pension obligations for retirees across both the state civil service and the local government sectors. Governor Adeleke detailed the allocation, stating that N2.17 billion would be directed towards retired workers from civil service parastatals, secondary schools, tertiary institutions, and the Uniosun Teaching Hospital. The remaining N2.09 billion will benefit retirees from local governments and primary schools.
“I have just approved, through the Office of the Head of Service, the payment of bond for retirees under the contributory pension scheme worth over N4 billion.
“Civil service parastatal, secondary schools, tertiary institutions, Uniosun Teaching Hospital retirees will get N2, 175, 280, 322.54 while N2, 098, 466, 528.87 will be given to local governments and primary schools retirees,” he said.
The governor acknowledged the current economic difficulties being faced nationwide and reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to prioritising workers’ welfare. He highlighted ongoing efforts by the state to align with federal initiatives in alleviating hardship and reforming the economy.
“As a matter of policy, we have gone out of our way to ensure the success of the federal government’s efforts,” Adeleke stated, noting that Osun had adopted prudent fiscal management to ensure equitable support for all sectors.
Governor Adeleke also revealed that his administration had successfully reduced the state’s inherited debt profile by more than 40%, a figure corroborated by the Debt Management Office. He further pointed to local content policies as a key component of his administration’s strategy, saying these had stimulated the economy by engaging local professionals, suppliers, and artisans.
At the event, the Chairman of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) in Osun, Mr Christopher Arapasopo, lauded the governor’s leadership, describing his administration as “rancour-free and workers-friendly.” Arapasopo commended Adeleke for settling salary arrears left by previous governments, approving pending promotions, and implementing a new minimum wage of N75,000.
He called for additional support for workers, including access to housing loans, vehicle refurbishing loans, and increased opportunities for recruitment and capacity building within the civil service.
Speaking on the theme of this year’s celebration, “Reclaiming the Civic Space in the Midst of Economic Hardship,” Arapasopo emphasised the importance of defending workers’ rights and promoting civic participation, especially in periods of economic strain.