IKERE-EKITI, EKITI STATE — September 14, 2026:
Pensioners of the Bamidele Olumilua University of Education, Science and Technology (BOUEST) on Monday staged a peaceful protest at the entrance of the institution, calling for the immediate payment of their outstanding pensions, arrears, gratuities and other retirement entitlements.
The protest, organised by the Pensioners Association of the University, was aimed at drawing public attention to what the retirees described as prolonged delays and alleged discriminatory treatment in the payment and implementation of their entitlements.
Speaking during the protest, the pensioners expressed concern that while serving staff were allegedly receiving their entitlements as expected, retirees were being subjected to what they described as unjust treatment.
One of the protesters also alleged that, beyond the delay in pension payments, some beneficiaries had been denied access to their cooperative accounts, further compounding the financial difficulties faced by retirees.
Key Demands
Among the major demands presented by the Pensioners Association are:
- Immediate payment of the overdue August 2026 pension in full.
- Immediate payment of the outstanding 50 per cent arrears of the July 2026 pension.
- Payment of all outstanding gratuities owed to retirees.
- Payment of arrears arising from the new minimum wage and the 20–28 per cent pension increase.
- Implementation of the 2019 consequential adjustment in pension payments.
- Provision of a clear and definite payment schedule for outstanding arrears, rather than what the pensioners described as vague promises.
- Swift implementation of all approved pension and retirement-benefit adjustments due to members.
- An end to unnecessary delays in the processing and disbursement of pensioners’ entitlements.
- Open communication from the relevant authorities on the amounts owed, reasons for the delays and expected payment timelines.
- A firm commitment to prompt and regular payment of pensioners’ rightful entitlements going forward.
- An end to alleged discrimination against pensioners in the implementation of wage and pension reviews within the university.
The pensioners maintained that their demands were not merely about receiving money but about securing their lawful and earned entitlements after years of service to the institution.
The peaceful protest took place at the university’s premises in Ikere-Ekiti, with the protesters using the occasion to appeal to the university management and relevant authorities to urgently address their grievances.
The pensioners also called for transparency and sustained communication from the authorities, stressing that retirees should not be left uncertain about when their outstanding benefits would be paid.
The protest remained peaceful as the pensioners pressed for concrete action on their demands.
