Ogun Workers Halt Services In Protest Over ₦82bn Missing Pension Funds.
Civil and public servants across Ogun State have launched an indefinite strike, bringing government operations to a standstill, as they demand accountability for ₦82 billion in unremitted pension deductions. The action, which began at midnight on Tuesday, 15 July 2025, follows years of frustration over the state government’s failure to comply with the Ogun State Pension Reform Law (OGSPRL) 2008, amended in 2013, which established the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).
The organised labour, comprising the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), and Joint Negotiating Council (JNC), announced the strike after a statewide congress in Abeokuta. In a statement signed by NLC Chairman Hameed-Benco Ademola, TUC Chairman Akeem Lasisi, and JNC Chairman Isa Olude, the unions revealed that only 34 months of contributions—less than three years—have been remitted to Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) over the 17-year period since the CPS was introduced. This leaves a staggering 170 months of deductions, totalling ₦82 billion, unaccounted for, despite consistent salary deductions from workers.
The workers’ grievances extend beyond non-remitted funds. The unions highlighted multiple breaches of the pension law, including the absence of a State Bureau of Contributory Pension, a mandatory Contributory Pension Board, a comprehensive pension database, and mandatory life insurance policies for workers. They described the CPS as a “drain on workers’ resources” and a “wage-lowering tactic” by successive governments, accusing the current administration under Governor Dapo Abiodun of failing to address these issues despite repeated calls for dialogue.
Tensions escalated after labour issued a 72-hour ultimatum on 2 July 2025, demanding the suspension of the CPS, set to be fully implemented on 1 July, until administrative and financial frameworks are established. The government’s silence prompted the strike, with workers vowing to remain off duty until their demands are met. “The government’s lack of preparedness and refusal to engage is a betrayal of workers’ trust,” Ademola stated at a press conference, warning that any worker defying the strike would face consequences.
The Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) has joined the fray, calling for a legislative probe into the missing ₦82 billion. In a statement by Publicity Secretary Kayode Adebayo, the PDP accused Governor Abiodun of “criminal negligence” and urged the State House of Assembly to compel the governor to account for the funds. “Why proceed with pension reforms when the legal frameworks and workers’ trust are absent?” Adebayo questioned, labelling the government’s actions a “monumental betrayal.”
The strike has disrupted government offices, schools, and courts across the state, with workers expressing deep frustration over economic hardships compounded by the pension crisis. The unions also cited the non-implementation of the minimum wage as an additional grievance, further fuelling their resolve. Governor Abiodun, who claimed in May 2025 to have spent ₦179.7 billion on pensions and gratuities since 2019, has yet to respond to the latest allegations, leaving workers and observers awaiting a resolution.
As Ogun’s workforce stands united, the strike underscores a broader call for transparency and accountability. The labour movement’s bold action sends a clear message: the sacrifices of Ogun’s workers must be respected, and their future secured. With no end date in sight, the standoff between the government and its employees signals a critical moment for the state’s governance and its commitment to its civil servants.
