The Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Oyo State Council, has accused the managements of the Ladoke Akintola University of Technology (LAUTECH) Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, and Emmanuel Alayande University of Education, Oyo, of defying Governor Seyi Makinde’s directive on pension increases, warning that pensioners will commence sustained protests from August 18 if their demands remain unmet.
The union also disclosed plans to seek the intervention of the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) to declare a three day warning strike in both institutions, describing the alleged refusal to implement the approved pension adjustments as an act of insubordination against the state government.
Speaking at a press conference in Ibadan on Monday, Secretary of the NUP, Oyo State Council, Comrade Segun Abatan, accused some chief executive officers of state owned tertiary institutions of placing themselves above the authority of Governor Seyi Makinde.
“We are here to intimate the public with what we consider a gross act of insubordination by some Chief Executive Officers of Oyo State tertiary institutions who believe they are greater than the directives of the Executive Governor of Oyo State, Engineer Seyi Makinde,” Abatan said.
He recalled that in January 2025, Governor Makinde, following consultations with the union, approved a minimum monthly pension of N25,000 for the least paid pensioners in the state with effect from January 2025.
According to him, the governor also directed that all 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 N17,500 out of the approved N32,000 increase effective August 2024, should be incorporated into the pensions of eligible retirees.
Abatan said all government agencies responsible for pension payments implemented the governor’s directive immediately despite the absence of an official circular.
“There was no circular to that effect. Those organs of government believe that any directive from the Governor is law with or without a circular and must be carried out strictly,” he stated.
The union, however, alleged that the boards and managements of state owned tertiary institutions initially refused to comply, insisting that they would only implement the directive after receiving a formal circular.
Abatan said the union subsequently engaged the institutions through correspondence and advocacy visits.
He noted that the managements of Oyo State College of Education, Lanlate, and Adeseun Ogundoyin Polytechnic, Eruwa, eventually complied with the directive by implementing the approved pension increases.
He added that the union also visited Emmanuel Alayande University of Education, where the Vice Chancellor allegedly assured members that the pension adjustments would be implemented.
“We were warmly received by the Vice Chancellor and were led to believe he would fulfil his promise. Little did we know that we were being fooled,” he alleged.
The NUP secretary further narrated the union’s experience at Michael Adeniyi Koleoso Polytechnic, Shaki, where members visited on June 10, 2026.
He said the Rector was unavailable and declined to meet the delegation, while the Deputy Rector, Dr Caleb Adejumobi, was unaware of the union’s earlier letter because he had allegedly not been briefed by the institution’s management.
“The Deputy Rector was in the classroom teaching students when we arrived. Our State Assistant Secretary, Comrade Banji Koleoso, had to read the earlier letter before he understood the purpose of our visit,” Abatan said.
On LAUTECH Teaching Hospital, Ogbomoso, the union alleged that it had written to the Chief Medical Director, Professor Olawale Adebayo Olakulehin, on June 1, 2026, and received a response on June 10.
Abatan said after the union replied to the CMD’s letter, another response dated June 19 postponed any meeting with the union until further notice.
He explained that after waiting for 54 days, the union issued another letter on July 24, giving the management seven days to implement the pension increases.
“The seventh day expired today. Rather than address our demands, the Chief Medical Director wrote to invite us to a meeting today, August 3.“
“We saw that invitation as a ploy to derail this press conference and informed him that after waiting 19 months, we were no longer interested in meetings but in the implementation of the approved pension increases,” he said.
Abatan stressed that the union was demanding full implementation of all approved pension increases and not merely payment of a flat N25,000 across board.
“The increase should include the 33 per cent pension increase, the 2019 consequential adjustment, the 20 per cent increase of January 2024 and the N17,500 increase.“
“The arrears have accumulated for 19 months because implementation ought to have commenced in January 2025,” he explained.
The union, however, commended the management of Michael Adeniyi Koleoso Polytechnic, Shaki, for approving and commencing implementation of the pension increases from July 2026.
Abatan described the institution as having joined “the league of responsible and responsive managements” alongside Oyo State College of Education, Lanlate, Oyo State College of Agriculture and Technology, Igbo Ora, and Adeseun Ogundoyin Polytechnic, Eruwa.
He urged the managements of LAUTECH Teaching Hospital and Emmanuel Alayande University of Education to emulate those institutions.
“The Chief Medical Director of LAUTECH and the Vice Chancellor of Emmanuel Alayande University should climb down from their high horses and learn from institutions that have already implemented the governor’s directive,” he said.
The union further alleged that the refusal to implement the approved pension increases reflected a deliberate attempt to punish pensioners.
Abatan argued that the same institutions promptly complied with Governor Makinde’s directives to pay N50,000 Christmas and New Year bonuses to pensioners in 2025 and the three month N10,000 fuel subsidy relief without demanding any enabling circular.
“When His Excellency directed payment of the bonuses and the palliative, they complied immediately without any circular. Why should pension increases be treated differently?” he queried.
The NUP also accused both institutions of implementing the new minimum wage for serving workers while excluding pensioners, describing the action as a violation of Sections 173(3) and 210(3) of the Constitution, which provide for corresponding pension increases whenever workers’ salaries are reviewed.
“The managements headed by Professor Olawale Adebayo Olakulehin and Professor Lanre Olaniyan have shown disdain for our union and our members. They have displayed arrogance, insensitivity to the plight of pensioners and self centredness,” Abatan alleged.
The union announced that its State Executive Council had resolved to commence mass protests at both institutions from August 18, 2026.
Abatan noted the demonstrations will involve affected pensioners, retirees from ministries, departments and agencies, as well as retired primary school teachers and local government pensioners in the affected areas.
“This will be the first phase of our struggle. Our protests at LAUTECH and Emmanuel Alayande University of Education will continue daily until our demands are met,” he declared.
He disclosed that the union would also write Governor Makinde to explain that the planned protests were not intended to embarrass his administration but to compel the affected institutions to obey his directives.
“A letter will be forwarded to His Excellency to assure him that our actions are not designed to embarrass his pensioner friendly administration but to whip into line the managements of LAUTECH and Emmanuel Alayande University of Education, which have blatantly disobeyed his directives,” Abatan said.
The union also said it would seek the intervention of the Nigeria Labour Congress, recalling that the Oyo State chapter of the NLC under Comrade Waheed Olojede had previously organised a three day warning strike at LAUTECH in January 2018 over labour related grievances.
“A worker today is a pensioner tomorrow. An injury to one is an injury to all,” Abatan declared.
