The Oyo State Tertiary Institutions arm of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) has appealed to Governor Seyi Makinde to address what it described as the last obstacle delaying the implementation of the approved pension review for retirees of state-owned tertiary institutions.
Speaking at a press briefing on Thursday at the NUP Secretariat, Agbarigo, Ibadan, the Chairman of the tertiary institutions’ branch, Dr. Solomon Ladipo, commended Governor Makinde for his consistent commitment to improving pensioners’ welfare in the state. Stakeholders and officials from various institutions were present at the briefing.
Dr. Ladipo described the governor as a compassionate leader who has demonstrated a strong resolve to alleviate the suffering of retirees.
However, he expressed concern that pensioners in state-owned tertiary institutions—whose salaries are funded through government subventions—have not received the approved pension adjustments for the past 10 months.
He explained that the union’s efforts to persuade the management of the affected institutions had been unsuccessful, as the institutions claimed they were unable to implement the new rates without an enabling circular from the state government.
According to him, although the union has continued to engage the heads of institutions and relevant ministries to secure the necessary circular, no progress has been made.
Dr. Ladipo noted that Governor Makinde had earlier promised not only to issue the enabling circular but also to increase subventions to the institutions to ensure the revised pension rates could be paid.
“Expectedly, this development raised our hopes to high heavens, and we started expecting the approved increments to reflect in our October 2025 pensions. Unfortunately, the October pensions were paid a few days ago without reflecting the expected adjustments,” he lamented.
He warned that as the year 2025 draws to a close, pensioners continue to struggle under worsening inflation, stressing that implementing the approved pension review remains the only viable cushion for retirees in the face of current economic hardship.
He added that other categories of pensioners in the state have already started benefitting from similar adjustments.
While acknowledging the Makinde administration’s efforts in pension reforms, Dr. Ladipo praised the governor for restoring dignity to retirees in Oyo State.
“Through his conscious rehabilitation, restoration, and transformation measures, Oyo State retirees that used to be the butt of all jokes are today the cynosure of all eyes. Oyo State pensioners are now primus inter pares—first among equals—when compared with their counterparts nationwide,” he said.
Also speaking, the State Assistant Secretary, Comrade Banji Koleoso, expressed hope that the outcome of the press briefing would bring relief to pensioners by the beginning of next month.
