Osun Workers criticize Adeleke for “lying” over salary, pension payments

• Claim N41bn allocation for governor’s office in 2025 outrageous – By Adekunle Alao

Workers under the aegis of Osun Workers Union ( OWU) have berated the Osun State Government for prioritizing the welfare of the state governor, Senator Ademola Adeleke and his cronies, at the expense of the well-being of the civil servants and pensioners, stating that many of the payment claims of the government to workers are exaggerated to deceive the public.

The Union, in a statement signed on Friday by their Organising Secretary, Comrade Gabriel Adeoye, highlighted several instances where the state government failed to meet its financial commitments.

According to Adeoye, “the state government promised to pay N20.4 billion for Social Benefits ( ie Pension, Gratuity, etc) in 2024 but only released N7.6 billion, which is just 37.25% of the projected amount.

“Similarly, the government earmarked N42.7 billion for salaries and wages in 2024 but only paid N37 billion, leaving shortfall of over N5 billion.

He criticised the government for failing in its social contract to the workers despite the increased in revenue to the state, explaining that “it would have been understandable if the resources are not available. But the resources, over N600 billion since November 2022, are in abundance to take care of us.”

The Osun Workers Union bemoaned that, “while the Adeleke government starved workers of their emoluments in 2024, Governor Adeleke inflated the allocation to his office from N13 billion to N25 billion, representing nearly 100% increase. It is more disheartening to note again that a government which spent N25 billion to sustain the luxury and comfort of the governor in the previous year plans to spend additional N41 billion on the governor’s office in 2025.”

The OWU noted that, “the Oyetola government we all vilified did much better in terms of resource management. In year 2022, for instance, the Oyetola government budgeted N2.7 billion for Social Benefits, but ended up paying N6.54 billion, achieving 242% budget performance. It is unfortunate that Osun workers and pensioners have found themselves in this precious situation where we now experience a better yesterday in our lifetime.”

The OWU urged Governor Adeleke to reduce his extravagant spending and prioritize the welfare of civil servants and pensioners, advising a heavy review of the 2025 budget because the plan to spend additional N7 billion to purchase luxury vehicles for politicians, after previously spending N11 billion, would be insensitive and sheer waste of resources.