Ondo senator aide resignation draws public concern after aide quits over N20,000 salary, citing Nigeria’s economic hardship and lack of salary review
The ondo senator aide resignation of Tunbosun Awe has drawn wide public attention and sparked concern across Ondo State, as the longtime political associate of Senator Olajide Ipinsagba quit over a long-standing salary dispute.
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Awe cited economic hardship and stagnant pay as reasons for his exit from the senator’s team.
Until his resignation, Awe served as a ward liaison officer in Isowopo Ward II, Akoko North East Local Government Area, representing the senator in community-level political matters.
On Wednesday, his resignation letter was made public, shedding light on a wage crisis that has provoked public discourse on the treatment of political aides.
“This is sequel to the N20,000 monthly salary payment to me, which is against the present economic realities and a far cry from the national minimum wage of N70,000,” Awe wrote.
His statement highlighted the disconnect between grassroots political workers and the current economic climate in Nigeria.
Awe made it clear that N20,000 could no longer sustain even the most basic living expenses in today’s Nigeria.
The letter revealed that the aide had repeatedly attempted to meet with the senator in hopes of negotiating a salary increase.
However, those efforts were unsuccessful. According to Awe, his request fell on deaf ears, despite his loyalty and years of unpaid service to the senator’s cause.
Their relationship began in 2006 when Senator Ipinsagba first declared his senatorial ambition. Awe served as secretary of his campaign group during the early movement dubbed “Concept 2007.”
That loyalty eventually earned him a spot on the senator’s team in various administrative and support roles, including as personal assistant during the tenure of the late Governor Olusegun Agagu.
“In addition, an audience had been sought with you at different intervals of the need to increase the pay, all to no avail,” the letter read.
“Especially, when it is fully established with you that N20,000 is the same amount you offered me as your personal assistant in 2007.”
Despite his disappointment, Awe expressed gratitude for the opportunity to serve and hoped the senator would reflect on the implications of the resignation.
“Destiny brought us together in 2006… I served faithfully, and I leave with my dignity,” he wrote.
The letter has since circulated widely, prompting emotional responses from the public. Many Nigerians, already grappling with economic hardship, see the resignation as a reflection of the wider systemic issues within the nation’s political machinery.
A resident of Akoko North, who asked to remain unnamed, said, “It’s heartbreaking. You serve a senator for years, help build his image, and still earn peanuts. This should be a wake-up call.”
The senator’s spokesperson, Yinka Ajagunna, confirmed knowledge of the resignation and promised to issue a detailed statement.
However, as of press time, no formal response had been released. Multiple calls to his lines also failed to connect.
This ondo senator aide resignation has reignited debate about the status and welfare of aides to public officeholders, particularly in rural and underrepresented areas.
Critics argue that aides like Awe form the operational backbone of many political offices but are routinely underpaid and undervalued.
A local analyst described the resignation as “emotional but overdue,” pointing out that the aide’s willingness to publicly share his reasons reflects a growing shift in political culture.
“Aides are no longer afraid to speak up. That’s progress,” he said.
While it remains uncertain whether the senator will revise wage policies following the resignation, the public outcry suggests lasting damage to his grassroots image.
The episode adds to the growing demand for reform in the remuneration and recognition of support staff in Nigeria’s political ecosystem.
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The ondo senator aide resignation has become a cautionary tale, exposing how decades-long loyalty may be rendered meaningless when fairness and dignity are ignored.
