A retired senior administrator with the Kosofe Local Government Area of Lagos State, Michael Olawale Odesanya, has appealed to authorities to pay his outstanding retirement benefits, saying the delay has left him struggling to meet basic needs, including the cost of medicines and supplements.
Odesanya, who lives with a disability, retired in 2026 after three decades in the Lagos State Local Government Service. He joined the Local Government Service Commission on July 4, 1996, and rose through the ranks from Admin Officer to Chief Admin Officer, eventually serving as Head of Administration and Human Resources.
Speaking about his experience after retirement, Odesanya said he had gained a firsthand understanding of the difficulties faced by many former government workers whose entitlements are delayed.
He said retirees often appeared to be forgotten once they left active service, despite having contributed to the pension system throughout their working years.
According to him, government workers’ retirement dates are generally known well in advance, making it possible for authorities to prepare their benefits before their exit.
Odesanya questioned why retirees should have to wait for months or longer to receive benefits when pension and other contributions had been deducted from their earnings throughout their careers.
He also contrasted the situation with some private-sector employers, saying workers in some companies receive gratuity and other retirement benefits within a few months of leaving employment.
The retired administrator said the delay becomes particularly difficult because retirees lose their regular salaries immediately after leaving service, while their retirement benefits may remain inaccessible.
He said this creates severe financial pressure for former workers who have no alternative source of income.
Odesanya also alleged that bureaucratic procedures had contributed to the delay in processing his own retirement benefits. He said officials contacted him over documents they claimed were missing from his records.
The former Human Resources officer disputed the claim, maintaining that he had ensured his records were properly submitted before retirement.
He said he subsequently provided the three documents requested and retained copies showing that they had been received and acknowledged by the relevant authorities.
Despite completing the additional documentation, Odesanya said he remained without his benefits and was repeatedly told that the process was awaiting further approvals.
He criticised what he described as bureaucratic bottlenecks, arguing that delays could have devastating consequences for retirees who depend on their entitlements to survive.
The financial burden, he said, is even greater for retirees living with disabilities or requiring regular medication and nutritional supplements.
Odesanya explained that some of the supplements he needs are not readily available through government hospitals and may have to be specially ordered or imported, making them expensive.
He therefore appealed to the Lagos State authorities and other relevant institutions to expedite the payment of retirement benefits owed to him and other retirees.
He also referred to reports of planned pensioners’ protests in Alausa, saying the continued agitation showed that many retirees remained dissatisfied despite reported efforts to address pension arrears.
Odesanya urged the authorities to treat retirement benefits as an urgent obligation rather than allowing former workers to endure prolonged administrative delays.
He argued that retirees had already fulfilled their part by serving the government for decades and should be allowed to access their entitlements without unnecessary obstacles.
Source: Damilola Ogunsakin, Vanguard News, August 27, 2026.
