By: Dr. Philip B. Olusola
Lead City University, Ibadan
In every responsible society, the treatment of retired workers is a direct reflection of the moral character of government. Beyond infrastructure and policy pronouncements, a government’s true legacy is often defined by how it treats those who once served faithfully but can no longer advocate for themselves.
This reality continues to cast a painful shadow over the lives of retirees of Rufus Giwa Polytechnic, Owo (RUGIPO), who remain trapped in years of hardship, uncertainty, and neglect due to the non-payment of their outstanding gratuities and pension arrears.
These retirees are not asking for favours. They are not seeking political patronage or charity. They are only demanding what is rightfully theirs – entitlements earned through decades of dedicated service to education, institutional growth, and the development of Ondo State and Nigeria at large.
For years, many of them have waited patiently for justice that has not come. In that long wait, the consequences have been devastating. Some have reportedly passed away without receiving their benefits. Others struggle daily with age-related illnesses, unable to afford medication or basic care. Families that once lived modest but stable lives have been pushed into hardship and distress.
This is no longer merely an administrative delay. It has become a humanitarian concern that demands urgent moral and governmental intervention.
The situation becomes even more troubling when placed against the backdrop of recurring reports of financial recklessness and large-scale corruption in the management of public resources in Nigeria. At a time when billions of naira are regularly reported lost or mismanaged, the continued inability to release approximately ₦2.5 billion to settle the entitlements of RUGIPO retirees raises serious questions of priority and governance.
More importantly, recent reports that Ondo State received well over ₦53 billion from the Federation Account Allocation Committee (FAAC) have significantly changed the context of this discussion. The issue is no longer about financial incapacity. It is about choice.
When compared with an allocation exceeding ₦53 billion, the ₦2.5 billion required to clear outstanding gratuities and pension arrears represents only a modest fraction of available resources. Yet, for the affected retirees and their families, it represents survival, dignity, and long-delayed justice.
These are men and women who spent their productive years building academic institutions, mentoring students, and contributing to human capital development. Through their labour, thousands of graduates were trained to serve society in various professional fields. It is, therefore, rather unfortunate that many of them now face neglect in the very society they helped to build.
The government must recognise that delayed gratuities and pensions amount to delayed justice. No administration that actually values workers’ welfare should allow elderly citizens who served faithfully to spend their retirement years in pain, uncertainty, and deprivation.
The release of the ₦2.5 billion owed would not only provide immediate relief to retirees and their families, it would also restore confidence in government’s commitment to fairness, accountability, and social justice. More importantly, it would send a clear message to serving workers that their labour will not be forgotten or devalued at retirement.
The recent FAAC allocation presents the Ondo State Government with a timely opportunity to act decisively. Setting aside this relatively small portion of available funds to settle the outstanding obligations to RUGIPO retirees would demonstrate compassion in action and responsibility in governance.
At its core, governance is not merely about the distribution of resources; it is about the protection of the vulnerable and the preservation of human dignity. Elderly citizens who have given their strength, intellect, and best years in service to the state undoubtedly fall within this category.
This is, therefore, a defining moment. The manner in which this issue is handled will speak louder than any policy statement or public declaration of intent.
History will one day deliver its verdict on this matter. It will ask whether a government blessed with substantial resources chose compassion over indifference, justice over delay, and gratitude over neglect. It will ask whether elderly citizens who devoted the best years of their lives to building public institutions and shaping future generations were allowed to spend their twilight years in dignity or despair. The answer to these questions lies in the decision the Ondo State Government makes today regarding the ₦2.5 billion owed to RUGIPO retirees. By acting decisively, the government can bring an end to years of needless suffering and reaffirm the timeless principle that faithful service to the state deserves honour, respect, and justice.
= Dr. Philip B. Olusola, a Public Affairs Analyst and Academic
+234 8034173134
Lead City University, Ibadan
philipinotun@gmail.com
Philip_bamiji@yahoo.com
