By Akin Amos
Abeokuta – No fewer than 349 former councillors in Ogun State have appealed to Governor Dapo Abiodun to approve the payment of their outstanding severance allowances, which they said have remained unpaid for more than seven years.
The former lawmakers who made the appeal during a peaceful protest held at the State Government Secretariat, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, said the peaceful gathering was solely aimed at drawing compassionate attention to their prolonged plight while reaffirming the legitimacy of their diligent service to the State.
Speaking on behalf of the group, former councillor who represented Totoro/Shokori Ward 11 in Abeokuta North Local Government Area, Hon. Biobaku Wasiu, said the affected ex-councillors served in various local government councils and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) across the State between 2016 and 2019, and that the agitation became necessary to secure government’s attention to the worsening economic and health conditions of many of their colleagues.
“We came out in large numbers as truly elected councillors and chairmen in our various local governments and LCDAs, with documentary evidence to support our claims, using this opportunity to respectfully appeal to the governor to consider, as a matter of urgency, the payment of our statutory severance allowances”.
“We were properly elected into office, served our people diligently, and left office in accordance with the law, yet our severance allowances remain unpaid till date,” Biobaku stated.
He further disclosed that they were propelled by the health conditions of their several colleagues who are currently battling serious health challenges and are unable to cater for medical and family needs due to lingering financial hardship.
“Many of our colleagues are sick and struggling to survive while their statutory severance allowance are deliberately held unpaid. Without this support or any other source of income, life has honestly become extremely difficult for them,” Biobaku lamented.
In her reaction, a former councilor from Igbogila, Yewa North Local Government, Hon. Alaba Ajoke also appealed directly to Governor Abiodun to demonstrate the rare compassion he is known for by facilitating the immediate release of their statutory entitlements.
“Mister Governor, we humbly appeal to you to kindly look into our situation and come to our aid. We believe this is within your capacity, and it will bring relief to hundreds of affected families,” she opined.
In the same vein, Hon. Kayode Olumide, who represented Ward 14 in Abeokuta South local government, urged the governor to kindly include the 2016–2019 set of councillors and Chairmen in the ongoing severance payment process reportedly being considered for officials who served between 2021 and 2024.
“We learnt that His Excellency is processing severance payments for those who served from 2021 to 2024. We are appealing that our own tenure from 2016 to 2019 should also be captured in the process for fairness and justice,” he said.
When asked about the exact amount being owed, the ex-councillors declined to give figures, insisting that only the government could determine the approved entitlements.
They passionately called on members of the public, civil society organisations, social media influencers, and the media to lend their voices to the appeal, insisting that their demand remains lawful, peaceful, and rooted in fairness and justice.
However, as of the time of filing this report, the Ogun State Government had yet to issue an official response to the protest and appeal.
