The Ondo State Government has commenced the payment of ₦3.82 billion in gratuities to 985 retirees of the state public service.
Lucky Aiyedatiwa, governor of the state, flagged off the payment on Wednesday in Akure, describing it as a “debt of honour” to workers who spent their productive years serving the state.
The payment covers 509 retirees from the 2020 batch and 476 outstanding beneficiaries from the 2015 to 2019 batches.
The beneficiaries include retired civil servants, secondary school teaching and non-teaching staff, as well as workers from state parastatals.
Aiyedatiwa said his administration inherited billions of naira in outstanding gratuity obligations dating back to 2015 but had taken steps to clear the backlog.
“When our administration came to the saddle, we inherited billions of naira in outstanding gratuity obligations covering the period from 2015 to date.
“We did not shy away from this burden. Rather, we confronted it with courage, responsibility and a clear understanding that governance is not only about initiating new projects; it is equally about confronting inherited challenges and resolving them,” he said.
The governor said the administration had cleared outstanding gratuities for retirees from 2015 to 2019, describing the payment to the 2020 batch as another major step towards settling its obligations to retired workers.
“We remember your service; we respect your sacrifice; and we will not forget your entitlement,” he said.
Peter Akingbade, permanent secretary of the Ondo State Pension Transition Office, said retirees from the 2015 Batch C, 2016 Batch C, 2017 Batch C, 2018 Batch B, 2019 Batch B and 2020 Batch A were included in the payment.
Akingbade said the beneficiaries would receive their full gratuity entitlements rather than partial payments.
He described the payment as a milestone that would provide relief and renewed hope to retirees.
Johnson Osunyemi, state chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, commended the governor for his commitment to pensioners.
Osunyemi said Ondo was among the leading states in the country in clearing its backlog of gratuities owed to retired workers.
Nike Ogunbodede, who spoke on behalf of the beneficiaries, also thanked the state government for the payment, describing it as a remarkable development.
