Ondo govt begins payment of N3.9bn gratuities to 1,038 retirees

By Boye Oyeyemi

The Ondo State Government has started paying N3.897 billion in gratuities to 1,038 former local government workers, primary school teachers and non-teaching staff who retired in 2016.

Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa announced the commencement of the disbursement on Thursday in Akure, describing the payment as a statutory obligation owed to workers who devoted their active years to the state.

The governor said gratuity should not be regarded as a government favour or political reward, but as a legitimate benefit earned through years of public service. He added that N3,897,315,605.75 would be paid directly into beneficiaries’ accounts to promote transparency and prevent exploitation.

Aiyedatiwa expressed concern over retirees who died while awaiting their entitlements, assuring their families that their contributions would be remembered. He also appealed to retirees excluded from the latest batch to remain patient, saying efforts were ongoing to settle the outstanding arrears.

He disclosed that the administration had commenced a healthcare initiative for senior citizens through the ORANGHIS Scheme, which would provide retirees with access to free medical treatment.

The governor also announced an online platform introduced by the Local Government Pension Transitional Department for processing retirement documents, saying retirees could now complete relevant procedures without physically visiting the department.

In the same vein, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Amidu Takuro, said the administration was balancing infrastructure development with investment in the welfare and wellbeing of residents, particularly retirees.

Responding, the state Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners, Elder Johnson Osunyemi, praised Aiyedatiwa for prioritising pensioners’ welfare, describing Ondo as a model for pensioners in Nigeria and expressing appreciation for the payment.