One Year Without Pay: Osun’s Teachers, Nurses and Retirees Left to Suffer

 For over 12 months, thousands of teachers, nurses, healthcare workers, council staff, and retirees across Osun State’s 30 local government areas have reportedly gone without salaries or pensions.

More than ₦130 billion in federal allocations meant for local governments was frozen in March 2025 following a political dispute.

Since then, ordinary workers have carried the burden.

They are not politicians.
They are not litigants in court.
They are public servants.

Yet they are the ones begging, borrowing, and struggling to survive.

“We are working but not being paid. We borrow to eat,” one council worker said.

Families can no longer pay rent.
School fees remain unpaid.
Medical bills are postponed.
Retirees — who depend entirely on pensions — say they have been left with nothing.

The crisis reportedly began after the disputed local government elections held in February 2025, which triggered a leadership tussle between officials aligned with Governor Ademola Adeleke and opposition-backed figures. Citing unresolved legal disputes over which group constituted the legitimate local government leadership, federal authorities subsequently froze the allocations meant for the state’s councils.

In December 2025, the Supreme Court ruled that withholding the funds was unconstitutional.

But the funds remain frozen.

The question is simple:

Why are workers still suffering months after a Supreme Court ruling?

When political disputes escalate, it is often citizens who pay the price. But governance is meant to protect livelihoods, not suspend them.

Beyond the official explanation, some political observers and residents have speculated that the decision to withhold funds may be politically motivated.

According to this line of argument, the freeze is linked to Governor Ademola Adeleke’s refusal to defect to the ruling party at the federal level. Critics claim the move is intended to pressure his administration and weaken his political standing ahead of future elections.

There is no publicly verified evidence confirming this claim. However, the perception alone has deepened public distrust.

If — and this is a serious if — public funds meant for salaries and pensions are being caught in political crossfire, then the real victims are not politicians.

They are teachers.
They are nurses.
They are retirees.
They are families trying to survive.

Political disagreements should never translate into economic punishment for ordinary citizens.

Salary allocations are not campaign tools.
Pensions are not negotiation leverage.
Public funds are not political weapons.

Whether the freeze is purely legal or politically influenced, one truth remains: innocent workers should not bear the cost of power struggles.

Governance must rise above rivalry.

If decisions that affect millions are perceived as political retaliation, it damages public confidence in institutions and deepens division.

At the very least, transparency is owed to the people.

Because in a constitutional democracy, disputes should be resolved in courtrooms — not on the backs of unpaid workers.