By Prince John O. Adegbola
The ongoing strike by workers in Ogun State is not merely another labor dispute; it is a desperate plea for justice, dignity, and accountability. At the core of this industrial action lies a staggering abuse of trust and gross mismanagement of workers’ entitlements: the non-remittance of over ₦82 billion in deducted pension contributions, accumulating over more than 14 years.
This situation is not a clerical error. It is a deliberate, unlawful, and inhumane violation of the rights of civil servants, men and women who have had pension deductions removed from their salaries month after month, believing that the government would uphold its responsibilities. These workers have earned every naira of those contributions. To withhold them is not only immoral but illegal.
According to the leadership of the Ogun State chapter of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), this shameful pattern of non-remittance began under Otunba Gbenga Daniel (2003–2011), continued under Senator Ibikunle Amosun (2011–2019), and, regrettably, persists under the current government of Prince Dapo Abiodun, creating a legacy of neglect.
As of July 2025, the backlog of unpaid pension deductions has swelled to ₦82 billion, a figure that highlights systemic negligence. Beyond pensions, deductions for cooperative societies, union dues, and loan repayments have also been withheld without remittance. This has left many workers unable to access emergency loans or fulfill obligations to their unions, effectively ruining their creditworthiness.
This is a breach of the Pension Reform Act of 2014, which mandates that all employee and employer contributions be remitted no later than seven days after salaries are paid. It is also a direct affront to Section 17(3)(f) of the Nigerian Constitution, which guarantees the right to adequate social security.
In a recent press briefing, Ogun NLC Chairman Comrade Hammed Ademola Benco stated that retirees have not received gratuities since as far back as 2012. He further noted that successive governments have failed to honor repeated agreements with labor, demonstrating a blatant disregard for the welfare of the workforce.
Governor Abiodun cannot continue to hide behind the failures of his predecessors while following in their footsteps. Governance is a continuum. Excuses are no longer acceptable. The people of Ogun elected this administration to solve problems, not to inherit and expand them.
Though the current strike may be inconvenient for the public, it is entirely justified. Workers are within their legal and moral rights to withhold their services when the government persistently withholds their earnings.
This failure is not only constitutional and moral; it is also a spiritual failing. Even the Scriptures condemn this injustice. In Deuteronomy 24:14–15, the Bible states:
“Do not take advantage of a hired worker who is poor and needy… Pay them their wages each day before sunset, because they are poor and are counting on it. Otherwise, they may cry to the Lord against you, and you will be guilty of sin.” (NIV)
Similarly, James 5:4 declares: “Look!
“Look! The wages you failed to pay the workers who mowed your fields are crying out against you. The cries have reached the ears of the Lord Almighty.”
If the Holy Scriptures are so clear, how then do government officials, many of whom profess religious faith, justify the seizure of workers’ entitlements?
Governance without compassion is tyranny. It is unconscionable to witness retirees who served with dedication slip into poverty, disease, or even death while waiting endlessly for their pensions and gratuities.
Let us remember a timeless Yoruba proverb:
“Ìṣẹ́ ni òògùn ìṣẹ́” (Work is the antidote to poverty). But if workers labor day and night and their wages are stolen, then poverty becomes state-sponsored.
Pension deductions are not a gift from the government; they are earned entitlements. Withholding them is tantamount to theft and, worse, a betrayal of trust.
Governor Abiodun must take immediate action by:
1. Making a clear and public timeline for the full remittance of all outstanding pension deductions.
2. Initiating phased payments of gratuities, starting with the oldest retirees.
3. Publishing a comprehensive audit detailing what is owed and when it will be paid.
4. Investigating and prosecuting those responsible for this fiscal misconduct, whether past or present.
The time for discussion is over. Ogun workers have waited long enough. Every additional day of delay deepens the injustice. Governor Abiodun must lead with integrity, or he will go down in history as the administrator who normalized wage theft.
The people of Ogun State are watching, Nigeria is watching, and history is taking note.
