The Ondo State Government has commenced the payment of ₦2.61 billion in gratuity arrears to retired local government workers and primary school teachers who left service in 2015, as part of its ongoing efforts to clear outstanding retirement benefits and strengthen the welfare of pensioners.
The payment exercise was officially flagged off on Wednesday in Akure by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa, who said the initiative underscores his administration’s commitment to ensuring that public servants retire with dignity and receive the benefits they earned after years of dedicated service.
The governor noted that the exercise would also reduce the backlog of inherited gratuity liabilities in the state.
Speaking through the Deputy Governor, Dr. Olayide Adelami, Aiyedatiwa described the release of the funds as a major milestone in the government’s efforts to settle outstanding gratuity obligations.
“Today’s event is a testament to our sustained commitment to clearing the massive arrears of gratuities inherited by our administration,” the governor said.
“While no amount of explanation can fully compensate for the delay, I wish to assure you that our administration understands your concern. We remain fully committed to defraying all outstanding gratuities before the end of our tenure,” he added.
Aiyedatiwa disclosed that his administration had already settled gratuities owed to retirees from 2012, 2013, and 2014, explaining that the current exercise covers those who retired in 2015.
According to the governor, the gratuities will be paid directly into beneficiaries’ bank accounts to eliminate middlemen, discourage lobbying, and ensure transparency throughout the payment process.
He also announced plans to digitalise pension and gratuity administration across the state to simplify benefit calculations and improve access to information for workers approaching retirement.
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Amidu Takuro, said the payment was in line with Governor Aiyedatiwa’s directive to clear all outstanding retirement benefits.
“This has been his priority, and he said under his watch, never shall you be begging for your pension again,” Takuro stated.
He commended local government chairmen and the Deputy Governor for their support and collaboration in ensuring the successful implementation of the payment exercise.
Earlier, the Head of Service, Chief Segun Odunsaya, said the payment would strengthen public confidence in government institutions and reaffirm the value placed on dedicated public service.
“This gathering is not merely about the payment of retirement benefits. It is a powerful affirmation of an enduring principle that those who dedicate their productive years to the service of society deserve to retire with dignity and the assurance that their sacrifices are remembered and valued,” Odunsaya said.
He noted that the retirees, particularly teachers and local government workers, had made significant contributions to grassroots development and the growth of the state’s economy throughout their years of service.
Odunsaya also commended the administration for prioritising workers’ welfare despite the financial pressures facing the government.
Responding on behalf of the beneficiaries, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Ondo State Chapter, Elder Johnson Osunyemi, thanked the state government for the payment, describing it as a welcome relief after an 11-year wait.
Osunyemi also praised the government’s broader welfare initiatives for senior citizens, particularly the provision of free healthcare services for pensioners.
“Free healthcare available to all pensioners will go a long way in meeting their critical health needs at retirement and easing their financial burdens. We thank the governor for prioritising the overall well-being of senior citizens. He will always have our continuous prayers and support,” he said.
