The 2025 May Day rally in Osogbo became a platform for a resounding endorsement of Governor Ademola Adeleke’s second term ambition, as workers trooped out in large numbers to express their support for his leadership.
Workers from across Osun State, in a carnival-like celebration, filled the rally ground with chants of “No vacancy till 2030,” signalling their confidence in Governor Adeleke’s administration.
The endorsement was jointly declared by the leadership of the Nigerian Labour Congress (NLC) and the Trade Union Congress (TUC). The NLC Chairman, Comrade Arapaja, and the TUC Chairman, Comrade Bimbo Fasasi, praised the governor’s consistent commitment to workers’ welfare.
Comrade Arapaja said: “Governor Adeleke has changed the story for Osun workers. Salaries are paid promptly, pensions are no longer delayed, and we are seeing real concern for our well-being.”
On his part, Comrade Fasasi stated: “This administration has done what many thought impossible. We are proud to stand by Governor Adeleke for a second term.”
The union leaders outlined several achievements of the Adeleke-led government. They noted the prompt and full payment of workers’ salaries, regular payment of pensions and gratuities, and continued settlement of salary arrears inherited from the previous administration.
They also mentioned the full payment of cooperative deductions, implementation of workers’ promotions along with salary increases, provision of free health insurance for all state pensioners, payment of N10,000 to contributory pensioners, and the full implementation of the National Minimum Wage of N75,554.28 for workers and N25,000 for pensioners.
Responding to the workers’ ovation, Governor Adeleke announced the approval of a fresh bond payment worth over N4.2 billion for retirees under the contributory pension scheme.
“I have just approved, through the Office of the Head of Service, the payment of bonds for retirees under the contributory pension scheme worth over Four Billion, Two Hundred and Seventy Three Million Naira,” he said.
He broke down the approved amount as follows: “For the state, comprising the Civil Service, Parastatals, Secondary Schools, Tertiary Institutions, and UNIOSUN Teaching Hospital, the sum is Two Billion, One Hundred and Seventy Five Million, Two Hundred and Eighty Thousand Naira (N2,175,280,322.54). For Local Government and Primary School retirees, the total is Two Billion, Ninety Eight Million, Four Hundred and Sixty Six Thousand Naira (N2,098,466,528.87).”
He added, “The total sum for both categories is Four Billion, Two Hundred and Seventy Three Million, Seven Hundred and Forty Six Thousand Naira (N4,273,746,851.40).”
Governor Adeleke further announced the approval of the 2025 promotion exercise for eligible civil servants across the public service, including the local governments.
“As I speak, the April 2025 salaries and allowances have been paid to all categories of workers across the State,” he stated.
The governor disclosed that his administration had continued the payment of the 30-month backlog of half salaries, especially for contributory pensioners. He added that the payment is nearing completion.
“We are pursuing vigorously, the free health care services for our senior citizens,” he said.
He assured the workers that his administration had remained committed to implementing the new minimum wage, which is regarded as one of the highest in the country.
“In our politics without bitterness, we cleared all outstanding deductions from the salaries of workers owed by our predecessors,” the governor noted.
He further said, “We cleared all outstanding promotion arrears met on ground including cash backing of such promotions.”
The governor reiterated his belief in capacity building and said the administration had made continuous efforts to train and retrain public servants for efficient service delivery.
“We are managing state resources in ways and manners that no sector is left behind. While we are not borrowing to fund governance, we have reduced the inherited state debt by over 40 percent. The Debt Management Office confirmed as much in its recent reports,” he said.
Governor Adeleke explained that his administration had expanded the state’s GDP and created a business-friendly environment. He said the 45-day window for processing and issuing Certificates of Occupancy had improved investor confidence.
“Our government is rebuilding the state economy to benefit the people. Through our local content policies, our professionals, suppliers and artisans are fully engaged. Osun money is servicing Osun people,” he declared.
“We are implementing the five-point agenda faithfully, with workers’ welfare as the number one priority. In all we do, we care for workers and pensioners.”
