Folasade Adu, a former aide to Ondo State’s late First Lady, Mrs Betty Akeredolu, has come forward with allegations of abandonment after serving for seven years without any form of reward.
Adu claimed that despite her dedication and service as a makeup artist and hair stylist for Mrs Akeredolu, she was paid a salary of N50,000, out of which N5,100 was deducted monthly for seven years.
In an interview with Ondo-based journalist, Prince Olujimi Adekale, Adu recounted her ordeal, revealing that despite her long years of service, Mrs. Akeredolu refused to offer any form of assistance when she left her job.
Adu said, “I worked for Her Excellency for more than seven years. When I was going, she did not give me anything. I worked with her for seven years as her makeup artist. I used to make her hair and do her pedicure.
“I was paid N50,000 then, but I usually gave back N5,000 to BRECAN. They would have deducted the N5,000 before the salary was paid. They called it ‘give back to BRECAN’. Another N100 was also usually deducted as charges. So, it was N44,900 that usually gets to me as salary at the end of the month.”
Asked why the sum of N5,100 was usually deducted from her salary monthly, she disclosed that the deduction was Mrs Akeredolu’s directive.
She said, “That was how it was from the beginning. She said we would give back 10% of our salary to BRECAN.”
BRECAN is an acronym for the Breast Cancer Association of Nigeria, founded by Mrs Akeredolu. It is an organisation galvanising action against breast cancer in Nigeria through public education, patient support, advocacy, and research. It was founded in 1997 after Mrs Akeredolu’s experience with breast cancer.
Adu further alleged that the late Akeredolu’s wife refused to offer any form of reward when she disengaged her services after the death and burial of her late husband and former governor.
Adu stated, “She said she’s out of office, so there is no help that she can render. I left working with her after the final burial of her husband. When I was to leave, her daughter asked me what I was going to be doing, and I sent her a business proposal of about N4m to reopen my studio.
“Till now, they did not get back to me. I sent a text message to Betty Akeredolu that I needed help and that she was my last hope, that she should render help to me, but she said there was no help that she could render because she is now out of office.
“I usually reach out to her to help me. She once told me that since I have a passport, she would take me out of the country, but till now, nothing.”
