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🇳🇬 Nigeria /Economy & Trade

Former Ogun councillors demand unpaid severance, cite deaths due to hardship

From The Punch · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Former councillors and political office holders in Ogun State are demanding their outstanding severance allowances from 2021-2024.
  • They claim the non-payment has negatively impacted their welfare, leading to the deaths of at least 25 colleagues due to health care costs.
  • The group is appealing to President Tinubu, the ruling party leadership, and Senator Solomon Adeola to intervene with Governor Abiodun for prompt payment.

Former councillors and political office holders who served in Ogun State local governments between 2021 and 2024 are urgently appealing to Governor Dapo Abiodun to release their outstanding severance entitlements. The group stated that the government's failure to pay these allowances has severely impacted their welfare and well-being.

Speaking on behalf of the forum, the Leader of the Legislative Council, Ijebu North Local Government, Abass Olanrewaju, revealed that at least 25 former colleagues have died because they lacked the means to afford necessary healthcare. He emphasized that their appeal is not confrontational but seeks the governor's intervention to resolve what they consider their lawful entitlement.

We want the public and, particularly, our party leaders to understand that we did not rush to the press. Before coming here today, we have explored several avenues.

— Abass OlanrewajuExplaining the forum's efforts to resolve the issue before going public.

Olanrewaju explained that the forum had explored multiple avenues, including representations and engagements with relevant authorities and stakeholders, before deciding to speak publicly. "We have come to speak publicly, peacefully and responsibly. Our intention is not to embarrass anybody. We intend to ensure that this matter receives the urgent attention it deserves," he said.

The former office holders are also calling on President Bola Tinubu, the national and state leadership of the All Progressives Congress (APC), and the party's governorship candidate for Ogun State, Senator Solomon Adeola, to intervene. They are requesting these leaders to prevail upon Governor Abiodun to approve the payment of their statutory emoluments without further delay. The appeal was made during the quarterly rotational meeting of the Ogun State Councilors Forum, 2021–2024, Ogun East Senatorial Chapter, held in Ijebu-Ode.

We have come to speak publicly, peacefully and responsibly. Our intention is not to embarrass anybody. We intend to ensure that this matter receives the urgent attention it deserves.

— Abass OlanrewajuStating the forum's peaceful approach to seeking their entitlements.
About this summary

Originally published by The Punch in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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