OSSIEC's Financial Mismanagement: 7,000 Ad Hoc Staff Left in the Dark

A crisis is brewing in Osun State as the Osun State Independent Electoral Commission (OSSIEC) has failed to pay approximately 7,000 ad hoc staff recruited for the February 22, 2025, local government election. The affected workers, who underwent training for two weeks before the election, were promised payment for their training, election duty, and transportation allowances after the poll.

However, three weeks have passed since the election, and the workers are yet to receive their stipends, totaling N1.5 billion. The delay in payment has caused apprehension among the workers, who are now calling on Governor Ademola Adeleke to intervene and ensure that OSSIEC pays them their stipends.

One of the affected Ad Hoc Staff , who preferred to remain anonymous, expressed their frustration, stating that they were engaged for the local government election and had not received any payment from OSSIEC. The worker also mentioned that some of their colleagues were arrested and detained by the police on election day.

The worker stated, "We were engaged for the last local government election. I was posted to Osogbo local government. We engaged in rigorous training for almost two weeks before the poll. OSSIEC officials relating with us said we would be paid our training, election duty, and transportation allowances in bulk after the poll."

The worker further stated that the failure of OSSIEC to pay them has caused hardship for many of the workers, who had incurred expenses during the election. "Election had been conducted the way they wanted to, and we are yet to receive any money from OSSIEC. We are getting apprehensive already."

The ad hoc staff are now calling on Governor Ademola Adeleke to intervene and ensure that OSSIEC pays them their stipends before the situation escalates. They are also calling on the governor to investigate the management of OSSIEC and ensure that those responsible for the delay in payment are held accountable.

The failure of OSSIEC to pay the ad hoc staff has raised concerns about the management of the election and the treatment of workers. It has also raised questions about the accountability and transparency of OSSIEC, and the need for the governor to intervene and ensure that the commission is run in a fair and transparent manner.

As the situation continues to unfold, the ad hoc staff are hoping that Governor Ademola Adeleke will intervene and ensure that they receive their stipends. They are also calling on the governor to take steps to prevent similar situations from arising in the future.