The retirees under the banner of Association of New Ogun Civil and Public Service Retirees have again embarked on another round of peaceful protest appealing to Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun to address their plights regards the controversial contributory pension scheme (CPS).
The aged on Thursday in their hundreds stormed the Governor’s office and House of Assembly located at Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, calling on the both the state executives and legislative arms of Ogun State to have mercy on them.
The protesters carrying placards with inscription, ‘We don’t want CPS, please help us to stop it. We are pleading’, urged the authorities for deferment of the contributory pension scheme implementation.
The retirees led by Omopariola Oluwole pointed out that many of them dedicated total loyalty to the service of Ogun state government without having any other private practices according to the state public service rules.
They lamented that, sadly the sudden transition to the contributory pension scheme has left them unprepared, vulnerable and exposed to severe hardship, regretting that under the scheme arrangement they now receive amount grossly inadequate to meet basic survival needs
‘Sir imagine someone who had received a monthly salary of above N450,000 when in service to now start receiving about N60,000 in a month. The situation has become distressing and life-threatening’, they lamented
‘Especially for retirees who exited service from 2nd July 2025 to date. The scheme, as currently implemented has brought untold tears, anxiety, and sorrow to many households. Furthermore, the palliative reportedly approved for those affected has not adequately reached many of the supposedly beneficiaries, thereby worsening our plights’.
The association emphasized that many retirees can no longer afford daily meals or basic necessities, stressing that medical care has become inaccessible, even for those battling with chronic illnesses and on lifelong medications.
‘Some of us retirees are unable to pay school fees for our children, especially those who married late or experienced delays in child bearing. We are unable to support our aged parents and dependent relatives’.
The protesters added that these painful realities have led to the untimely deaths of some of their colleagues, stressing that many of them now live in penury and abject poverty.
‘The shame, ridicule and emotional trauma we endure daily from our inability to meet our basic obligations have weakened us physically, emotionally and psychologically. We humbly confess, that many of us did not prepare for this sudden policy shift’.
They explained that they planned their retirement around defined benefit scheme and not contributory pension scheme, adding that many retirees cannot afford prescribed drugs, hospital bills or routine medical check ups
‘Your Excellency Sir, it is now crystal clear why at the Federal level, the Nigeria Police agitated for exit from the scheme, likewise some people occupying special offices that have carefully exited themselves from this killer pension scheme because they know its aftermath effect’.
The protesters called on Ogun state government on shifting the full implementation of the contributory pension scheme to a later date to allow adequate planning, remittance of outstandings deductions, and proper funding of retirement savings accounts
’Your Excellency, deferring the contributory pension scheme implementation, will give this government sufficient time to resolve unremitted contributions, pay accrued rights, and ensure transparency and growth of retirement savings accounts’.
‘This will restore confidence, dignity and hope to current and future retirees. We firmly believe in your legacy as a compassionate, listening and worker-friendly Governor. We trust that you will once again demonstrate your fatherly care by rescuing us from this desperate situation and restoring our hope of living’.
‘We shall remain eternally grateful for your merciful consideration and kind intervention. History will remember this noble act, and our prayers will continually rise for you and your administration. Please sir, have mercy on us’.
