The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Oyo State Council, has threatened to embark on indefinite mass protests and is seeking the intervention of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to declare a three-day warning strike at the Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital (LAUTECH), Ogbomoso, and Emmanuel Alayande University of Education, Oyo, over the alleged refusal of their managements to implement Governor Seyi Makinde’s directive on pension increases.
The union said the protests would commence on August 18 if the institutions fail to comply with the governor’s directive, which approved a minimum monthly pension of ₦25,000 and other outstanding pension adjustments for eligible retirees.
Addressing journalists on Monday at the union’s state secretariat in Agbarigo, Ibadan, the Oyo State Secretary of the NUP, Dr. Olusegun Abatan, said the planned protests would involve pensioners from the affected institutions, retired primary school teachers, local government pensioners and retirees from ministries, departments and agencies within the affected zones.
He spoke alongside the union’s National Treasurer, Jare Jokanola, and the Senior Assistant General Secretary, Waheed Olojede, who represented the National President.
According to Abatan, the union would also formally request the Oyo State chapter of the NLC to declare a three-day warning strike in both institutions to compel compliance.
He said the decision followed what he described as the persistent refusal of the managements of LAUTECH Teaching Hospital and Emmanuel Alayande University of Education to implement the governor’s directive despite several appeals and engagements by the union.
“The State Executive of our union has resolved that from August 18, aggrieved pensioners will commence peaceful protests at the two institutions. Pensioners from ministries, departments and agencies, as well as retired primary school teachers and local government pensioners in the affected areas, will join the action because an injury to one is an injury to all,” he said.
Abatan accused the Chief Medical Director of LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Prof. Olawale Adebayo Olakulehin, and the Vice-Chancellor of Emmanuel Alayande University of Education, Prof. Lanre Olaniyan, of failing to comply with the governor’s directive.
He alleged that both institutions had implemented the new minimum wage for serving employees while excluding pensioners from the corresponding pension adjustments.
The union argued that the action contravenes Sections 173(3) and 210(3) of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), which provide for corresponding pension reviews whenever workers’ salaries are increased.
Abatan recalled that Governor Makinde, after consultations with the union in January 2026, approved a minimum monthly pension of ₦25,000 and directed the implementation of outstanding pension increases, including the 33 per cent pension increase approved in 2010, the 2019 consequential adjustment, the 20 per cent pension increase effective January 2024 and the balance of the ₦32,000 pension adjustment for qualified retirees.
He maintained that most pension-paying agencies and several state-owned tertiary institutions implemented the directive without waiting for an official circular.
According to him, institutions such as Oyo State College of Education, Lanlate; Adeseun Ogundoyin Polytechnic, Eruwa; Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igbo-Ora; and Michael Adeniyi Koleoso Polytechnic, Saki, have complied with the directive.
He, however, alleged that LAUTECH Teaching Hospital and Emmanuel Alayande University of Education had continued to delay implementation for about 19 months despite repeated correspondence and meetings.
Abatan said the union had initially explored dialogue with the managements of the affected institutions but decided to escalate the matter after exhausting all peaceful options.
He particularly criticised what he described as repeated postponement of meetings by the management of LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, alleging that a meeting invitation received on July 30 was an attempt to forestall the union’s planned press conference.
“We are no longer inclined to continue meetings after waiting for 19 months. What we expect now is implementation of the governor’s directive,” he said.
The union said it would formally notify Governor Makinde of its planned action, stressing that the protests were not intended to embarrass his administration but to compel compliance by the affected institutions.
“Our action is not against the governor. It is to ensure that those who have failed to carry out his directive do the needful,” Abatan said.
Also speaking, Olojede declared the support of the union’s national leadership for the planned action, saying pensioners were entitled to enjoy the same benefits approved for serving workers.
He argued that ongoing discussions on a new national minimum wage should equally provide for a corresponding review of pensions.
“A worker today is a pensioner tomorrow. Pensioners deserve dignity after serving the nation, and approved pension increases should be implemented without delay,” he said.
