– Teachers, Nurses, and Retirees in Osun Are Forced to Beg, Borrow, and Starve for 12 Months as ₦130 Billion in Local Funds Lies Frozen in Federal Government Accounts
By Flowerbudnews
Thousands of local government workers in Osun State have gone over 12 months without salaries or pensions after more than ₦130 billion in federal allocations meant for the state’s 30 local government areas was frozen in March 2025 following a political dispute.
Those affected include teachers, nurses, healthcare workers, council staff, and retirees. Many say they now survive on borrowing, family support, and personal debt.
“We are working but not being paid. We borrow to eat. Some of us cannot feed our families anymore,” one council worker said.
Families have struggled to pay rent, school fees, and medical bills. Some workers say their children have stopped attending school because they cannot afford fees.
Retirees, who depend entirely on pensions, say they have been left with nothing.
“We served for years. Now we are abandoned. We depend on others to survive,” a retired worker said.
The crisis began after disputed local government elections in February 2025, which created a leadership conflict between officials aligned with Governor Ademola Adeleke and opposition figures. Federal authorities froze the allocations, citing unresolved legal disputes over legitimate leadership.
In December 2025, the Supreme Court ruled that withholding the funds was unconstitutional, but the allocations remain frozen.
Workers say they have sold belongings, taken loans, and accumulated debt just to survive.
“We have no income for one year. We are suffering,” another worker said.
The Osun State Government has repeatedly called for the release of the funds, warning that the freeze has crippled local government operations and worsened economic conditions across communities.
With no resolution so far, thousands of workers remain unpaid, with no clear timeline for when salaries and pensions will resume.