Ogun State’s civil and public servants, led by the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC), Trade Union Congress (TUC), and Joint Negotiating Council (JNC), have intensified their indefinite strike, which began at midnight on July 15, 2025, bringing government operations to a standstill. The unions demand direct talks with Governor Dapo Abiodun over the state’s failure to remit over ₦82 billion in contributory pension deductions spanning 14 years, non-implementation of the minimum wage, and unpaid leave allowances for over eight years.
Despite the strike’s crippling impact on schools, hospitals, and public offices, Governor Abiodun has yet to issue an official response or agree to meet with union leaders. The NLC Chairman, Comrade Hameed Ademola-Benco, alongside TUC Chairman Comrade Akeem Lasisi, reiterated during a press conference at the Nigeria Union of Journalists (NUJ) Secretariat in Abeokuta that workers will not negotiate with any official other than the governor himself. “We are employees of Governor Dapo Abiodun. We want to meet only His Excellency,” Ademola-Benco stated, emphasizing the unions’ resolve to continue the strike until their demands are met.
The Ogun State Pension Reform Law of 2008, amended in 2013, mandates timely remittance of pension contributions, but only 34 of 204 expected monthly payments have been made since its inception. The unions have labeled the scheme a “nightmare” and demanded its repeal or suspension, citing gross mismanagement by successive administrations, including Abiodun’s, which has not remitted any contributions in six years.
The strike has garnered support from the Ogun State chapter of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), which accused the Abiodun administration of “gross mismanagement and deliberate neglect” of workers’ welfare. Public frustration is mounting, with posts on X highlighting the closure of essential services and calling for urgent resolution.
As Ogun State remains paralyzed, all eyes are on Governor Abiodun, whose silence continues to fuel tensions. The unions warn that the strike will persist until a face-to-face dialogue with the governor yields concrete solutions.
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