JUST IN: GOVERNOR AIYEDATIWA FLAGS OFF ₦2.46 BILLION GRATUITY PAYMENT TO ONDO RETIREES

GOVERNOR AIYEDATIWA FLAGS OFF ₦2.46 BILLION GRATUITY PAYMENT TO ONDO RETIREES


The Ondo State Government has commenced the disbursement of ₦2,466,336,304.00 as gratuities to pensioners who retired from the state public service in 2018 and 2019, in a move aimed at addressing longstanding arrears and improving retirees’ welfare.


Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa officially flagged off the payment on Monday at the Cocoa Conference Centre, Governor’s Office, Akure. The exercise covers 733 verified beneficiaries across the state.

Speaking at the event, the governor said the payment reflects his administration’s commitment to prioritising the welfare of both serving and retired workers. He noted that the disbursement goes beyond routine governance, describing it as a moral obligation to individuals who had contributed to the development of the state during their years of service.

According to him, many retirees had faced prolonged delays in receiving their entitlements, leading to economic hardship. He stated that retirement should be a period of dignity and stability, not uncertainty.

The governor explained that despite competing financial demands, his administration approved the funds to offset outstanding gratuities for retirees of 2018 and 2019. He added that the government inherited a significant backlog of pension and gratuity liabilities and is taking steps to gradually clear the arrears.

He further assured that the welfare of workers and pensioners would not be politicised, maintaining that consistent interventions have been made to support retirees. He also reiterated the government’s commitment to ensuring the safety of lives and property, alongside continued investment in infrastructure development.

Governor Aiyedatiwa encouraged retirees who are yet to benefit to complete their verification process, assuring that subsequent phases of payment would cover more beneficiaries. He also urged senior citizens to enrol in the Ondo State Health Insurance Scheme, which has been subsidised to improve access to healthcare services.

In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ondo State Pension Transitional Department, Dr. Peter Akingbade, described the development as a significant milestone in efforts to clear outstanding gratuities. He attributed the progress to the administration’s focus on pensioners’ welfare.

Akingbade disclosed that the 733 beneficiaries include 391 retirees from 2018 and 342 from 2019, drawn from the core civil service, secondary school teaching and non-teaching staff, as well as various government parastatals.

He added that gratuity payments remain an ongoing process and urged retirees who have not completed their documentation to do so promptly.

The permanent secretary also recalled that in January 2026, the state government paid ₦1,013,304,155.08 to retirees from 2015, 2016, and 2017 (Batch B), as part of efforts to reduce the backlog.

Representing the beneficiaries, a 2018 retiree, Prince Adeleye Adebanjo, expressed appreciation to the state government for the payment, noting that it would provide relief to many retirees.

Similarly, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) in Ondo State, Mr. Johnson Osunyemi, commended the government for the initiative, describing it as a positive step towards addressing pension-related challenges in the state.

The event was attended by top government officials, including the Deputy Governor, Dr. Olayide Adelami; representatives of the Ondo State House of Assembly; members of the State Executive Council; permanent secretaries; political appointees; and labour leaders.

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