No fewer than 349 former councillors who served in Ogun State between 2016 and 2019, under the administration of former Governor Ibikunle Amosun, staged a protest at the Governor’s Office in Oke Mosan, Abeokuta, on Thursday.
The protest was over the non-payment of their statutory severance and furniture allowances, seven years after they left office.
Armed with placards bearing inscriptions such as “No more promises, enough of deception, pay us now” and “Seven years of suffering is enough, pay us now,” the former lawmakers lamented the financial hardship they have endured since their tenure ended.
According to them, more than 50 of their colleagues have died due to lack of funds to attend to medical needs, while many others are battling various ailments.
The group was pleading with the governor to pay them their outstanding entitlements, adding that they remained loyal members of the All Progressives Congress (APC).
Reacting to the demonstration, the Special Adviser to Governor Abiodun on Information and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, noted that the former councillors did not serve under the current governor.
He said it was unclear why the government they served under failed to pay them, especially as local government chairmen and commissioners from the same period were reportedly paid.
Akinmade added that the proper approach would be to engage the government rather than protest, but promised to contact the relevant authorities to ascertain the facts.
He assured that if their demands were genuine, the government would look into them.
