Adebayo Adenrele
Retirees of the Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology (BOUESTI), Ikere-Ekiti, have appealed to the Ekiti State Governor, Mr. Biodun Oyebanji, to urgently intervene in the payment of their outstanding pensions and other entitlements.
The pensioners, under the aegis of the BOUESTI Pensioners Association, made the appeal in a letter addressed to the governor and made available to journalists in Ado-Ekiti on Monday.
The letter, signed by the association’s Chairman Dr. Kola Ajaja, PRO, MrAlao Odeyemi, alleged that as of September 7, 2026, the retirees had yet to receive their August pension, while only 50 per cent of their July pension had been paid.
The pensioners said the development had subjected their members to severe hardship, alleging that some had suffered avoidable illnesses and untimely deaths as a result of their inability to meet their basic needs, including medical expenses.
They also alleged that the university management was indebted to them in respect of gratuity, arrears of the new minimum wage and the 20 to 28 per cent pension increase, while the institution was yet to implement the 2019 consequential adjustment in pension.
The association therefore appealed to Oyebanji, who doubles as the Visitor to the university, to use his office to ensure the immediate payment of their August 2026 pension in full and the outstanding 50 per cent of their July pension.
The pensioners further urged the governor to intervene in the payment of the arrears of the new minimum wage and 20 to 28 per cent pension increase, implementation of the 2019 consequential adjustment and settlement of outstanding gratuities owed its members.
The letter reads, “On behalf of the Bamidele Olumilua University of Education Science and Technology, Ikere-Ekiti, (BOUESTI) Pensioners Association, we hereby plead with Your Excellency, Governor Biodun Abayomi OYEBANI (BAO), the Visitor to BOUESTI to come to the aid of the pensioners of the institution in order to stop untimely deaths among us.
“Your Excellency, as at today, September 7th, 2026, the August pension of the retirees of BOUESTI has not been paid and only 50% of the July pension was paid to our members about a month ago. This has brought untold hardships, untimely deaths and avoidable illnesses to our people. In addition, the university management is still heavily indebted to the pensioners in the payment of our gratuity, arrears of minimum wage and the arrears of 20-28% pension increase. The university is also yet to implement the 2019 Consequential adjustment in pension to our members.
“We, therefore, plead with Your Excellency to use your good office and your usual humanitarian gesture to intervene in our case to ensure the: Immediate payment of our August 2026 pension in full, Immediate payment of the 50% arrears of July 2026 pension, Payment of the arrears of the new minimum wage and the arrears of the 20-28% pension increase, Implementation of the 2019 Consequential adjustment in pension, Payment of the outstanding gratuity of our members.
“Your Excellency, please, come to our aid and ensure that the university management pays our August pension and the 50% arrears of July pension immediately so that our members can take care of their health challenges, attend to their medications and general welfare in order to stop untimely deaths and prevent avoidable illnesses among our members. Secondly, we humbly plead that you urgently intervene so that the university management can pay our other listed entitlements without further delay.
“Your Excellency, as elders, we have chosen to send this appeal to you rather than to embark on public protests because we believe that you will answer our prayers with utmost urgency”.
