Former elected councillors and local government chairmen who served in Ogun State between 2016 and 2019 under the administration of former governor Ibikunle Amosun on Thursday protested at the Governor’s Office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, over the alleged exclusion of their severance entitlements from an ongoing payment process.
The protesters, comprising 349 former councillors and 57 former chairmen, vice chairmen, and local government supervisory councillors, expressed dissatisfaction over what they described as the government’s failure to pay their outstanding entitlements seven years after leaving office.
The group alleged that while arrangements had reportedly been concluded for the payment of severance packages to former local government officials who served between 2021 and 2024, their own entitlements had remained unpaid.
According to the former officials, the unpaid benefits include two months’ salaries, furniture allowances, and severance packages accrued during their tenure between 2016 and 2019.
They noted that many of their members were currently facing severe financial hardship, while several others had died since leaving office.
The protesters maintained that their demands were lawful and rooted in fairness and justice, stressing that they contributed significantly to grassroots governance and community development during their time in office.
Speaking during the protest, Hon. Ajoke Isola, a former councillor representing Igbogila Ward in Yewa North Local Government, said members of the group served the state diligently but had yet to receive their statutory benefits.
“These are councillors who served from 2016 to 2019. We served with dedication and commitment, but seven years after leaving office, we are yet to receive our severance allowances,” she said.
“While in office, the government also owed us two months’ salaries in addition to the statutory furniture allowance. The non-payment of these entitlements has plunged many of us into severe financial hardship.”
Isola added that more than 50 former councillors had died, while others battling health challenges could not afford medical treatment.
“We are not here to fight the government; we are only appealing to our father, Governor Dapo Abiodun, to please come to our aid and pay what is due to us,” she added.
Also speaking, Kayode Olumide, a former Ward 14 councillor in Abeokuta South Local Government, appealed to Governor Abiodun to facilitate the payment of the outstanding severance allowances, furniture allowances, and unpaid salaries.
“We have gathered that the severance packages for those who served between 2021 and 2024 are already being processed, and that is why we are appealing to Governor Abiodun to also consider our case,” he said.
“We are loyal members of the APC and have continued to serve the party faithfully. We are only pleading with the government to show us mercy.”
Another former councillor, Olufemi Biobaku, who represented Ward 11, Totoro, in Abeokuta North Local Government, also appealed to the governor to intervene in the matter.
“As former councillors, we are here to demand the payment of our outstanding severance allowances, which have remained unpaid since 2019,” Biobaku said.
“Many of us are going through severe hardship, while some are battling health challenges. We are not sponsored by any politician; we are simply appealing to the governor to assist us so that we can survive.”
Reacting to the protest, the Special Adviser to Governor Abiodun on Information and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, said the former councillors did not serve under the current administration but assured that the government would investigate the matter.
“The appropriate thing is for them to engage the government rather than protest because if commissioners, local government chairmen, and other officials who served during that same period were paid, then there must be reasons this category was not paid,” Akinmade said.
“However, I will contact the relevant authorities to ascertain what happened. If their claims are genuine, the government will certainly look into the matter.”
