Ondo State Governor, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to the welfare of retirees and fiscal accountability as he approved the payment of ₦1.4 billion in gratuity arrears to pensioners who retired from the local government and primary school system in 2014.
Speaking at the official flag-off ceremony in Akure on Monday, October 13, 2025, Governor Aiyedatiwa said the initiative reflects his administration’s resolve to clear outstanding gratuities as more financial resources flow into the state.
The governor explained that the payment continues the bulk gratuity settlement initiative he introduced while serving as Deputy Governor, designed to clear backlogs systematically and restore confidence among pensioners.
“This exercise being undertaken today is part of our structured payment process, which uses the year of exit from public service as the sole qualification for payment. We thank God Almighty for enabling us to restore hope to our pensioners, who before now had lost confidence in receiving their full entitlements after meritorious service to the state,” Aiyedatiwa said.
He noted that the disbursement followed similar payments made to the 2011, 2012, and 2013 batches, describing it as a deliberate and sustained effort to meet the financial obligations of government to its senior citizens.
The governor further disclosed that Ondo State remains one of the few in Nigeria to have approved an upward review of a flat ₦30,000 pension rate for retirees, aimed at cushioning the harsh effects of inflation and the global economic downturn.
“Since our assumption of office, we have paid serious and deliberate attention to the welfare of pensioners. Ondo State is among the few to grant an upward review of ₦30,000 flat rate to pensioners to ease the burden of the current economic hardship,” he said.
Governor Aiyedatiwa stressed that the prompt payment of pensions and gratuities should not be seen as an achievement but as a moral and constitutional duty, assuring that his administration would sustain the process until all arrears are cleared.
He added that subsequent batches, beginning with the 2015 retirees, would be paid soon, saying his government is committed to ensuring no retiree is left behind.
The governor also announced that the next of kin of three local government workers who lost their lives in a road accident while on official assignment to Niger State would receive cheques for their terminal benefits to ease the burden on their families.
In his goodwill message, Dr. Adeniran Ikuomola, Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health, who represented the Head of Service, commended the governor for his compassion and prioritisation of pensioners’ welfare despite competing development needs.
He said:
“Most of these pensioners retired over a decade ago, and many are now in their 70s. The governor could have channelled the ₦1.4 billion elsewhere, but he chose to honour those who served the state. This gesture has a multiplier effect on the entire workforce.”
Also speaking, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Amidu Takuro, praised the governor for sustaining the pension savings initiative introduced during his tenure as Deputy Governor, noting that the policy has made regular gratuity payments possible.
Chairman of the National Union of Pensioners (NUP), Comrade Johnson Osunyemi, who spoke on behalf of retirees, lauded Governor Aiyedatiwa for restoring dignity and hope to pensioners across the state.
The event was attended by the Deputy Governor, Dr. Olayide Adelami, Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Taiwo Fasoranti, Chief of Staff, Prince Segun Omojuwa, members of the State Executive Council, SUBEB Chairman, Rt. Hon. Victor Olabimtan, and other top government officials.
