The Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has assured retirees of his commitment to the phased payment of outstanding gratuities, saying that his administration would not relent until all arrears are fully liquidated.
The governor made the promise on Friday at the flag-off of the fourth batch of bulk payment of arrears of gratuities to retired local government staff and primary school teachers in Akure.
Aiyedatiwa emphasised that the government recognised the financial burdens faced by retirees, hence the need to prioritise their welfare despite the state’s limited resources.
He disclosed that, in the last three phases of the initiative, the sum of ₦3 billion had been used to clear gratuity backlogs up to the year 2012. With the latest phase, additional ₦2.5 billion has been set aside to clear the gratuities of retirees from 2013.
“Retirees deserve to enjoy the fruits of their labor in peace and dignity. This initiative is part of our broader strategy to improve their welfare and ensure they are not forgotten after years of meritorious service,” the governor stated.
He reiterated that under his leadership, a system of regular warehousing of funds for gratuity payments had been put in place to ensure seamless and consistent disbursement.
He also assured that gratuity payments in the state would no longer be subject to political influence or favoritism, as only the year of retirement would determine payment priority.
“Your prayers for us have continued to sustain us. It is to the glory of God that your efforts and support as well as that of the entire people of the State have given us yet another opportunity as we look forward to my official inauguration on Monday, 24th February, 2025.
“I wish to assure you that with our renewed mandate, an era of unprecedented delivery of dividends of good governance for the benefits of all and sundry in our Sunshine State has come,” he added.
Earlier in his welcome address, the Head of Service, Mr Bayo Philip, appreciated the governor for prioritising the welfare of retirees.
He commended the proactive measures taken by the administration to clear gratuity arrears despite financial constraints, describing it as a testament to the governor’s commitment to putting a smile on the faces of retirees.
He urged the beneficiaries to utilise the payments judiciously and expressed optimism that more retirees would benefit from subsequent phases of the defrayment exercise.
In his vote of thanks, Mr Johnson Osunyemi, Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners, Ondo State Chapter, appreciated the governor for prioritising the welfare of retirees and ensuring timely payment of gratuities.
He noted that Ondo State pensioners are among the few in the country enjoying regular pension increases, a privilege not extended to retirees in many other states.
Osunyemi further commended Aiyedatiwa for being one of the few governors in Nigeria to approve the implementation of the new minimum wage for pensioners, describing it as a landmark achievement that has significantly improved the living conditions of retirees in the state.
Some of the beneficiaries; Ahmed Babatunde, Cecilia Olasimbo, and Francis Adejuwon expressed gratitude for the initiative, noting that the payment would greatly ease their financial burdens.
