Widow’s plea: Ogun college gave N20,000 for burial, holds husband’s gratuity

A widow in Ijebu-Ode, Ogun State, Mrs Adetola Olayide-Asipa, has publicly accused Sikiru Adetona College of Education, Science and Technology of withholding her late husband’s gratuity and unpaid entitlements. Her husband, Olusoji Olayide-Asipa, served as a Principal Registrar until his death in 2017. She claims the institution provided only a N20,000 burial contribution and has offered no further support since.

In an interview with Punch Newspaper on October 12, 2025, Mrs Olayide-Asipa detailed her struggle. She stated that she completed all required documentation, including securing a letter of administration from the High Court in Abeokuta. Despite her compliance, the college failed to release the gratuity. “They gave me only N20,000 for his burial,” she recounted, describing the gesture as humiliating and unjust.

Details of the Tragic Incident

Mrs Olayide-Asipa linked her husband’s death to a staff bus accident in April 2016. He sustained internal injuries while returning from work. Although he seemed fine initially, his health deteriorated, leading to his passing in September 2017. The widow asserts the institution denies the death was work-related, instead claiming he died from a terminal illness. She believes this denial is a key reason for the refusal to release his benefits.

Financial Struggle and Family Hardship

As detailed in the complete version, there are several key factors to consider.

The widow now bears the immense financial burden of raising their five children alone, which includes two sets of twins. Her income from civil service and petty trading is insufficient. She has resorted to loans from cooperative societies and microfinance banks to make ends meet. “I am neck-deep in debt, but I refuse to let my children fall behind,” she explained. Her children have taken on odd jobs and street hawking to support the family, and she pays school fees in instalments.

College Responds to the Allegations

When contacted, the college acknowledged the case. The institution, through its Deputy Director of Public Relations, Mrs Olufisayo Olayide, stated that part of the late husband’s arrears were used to repay an outstanding cooperative loan and a NASU bank loan. She clarified that gratuity payments are not the college’s direct responsibility but are handled by the Ogun State Government after the institution provides clearance. Despite this explanation, Mrs Olayide-Asipa maintains she has been abandoned and treated unjustly by the system that employed her husband.