Ondo State Governor, Hon. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has officially flagged off the distribution of N3.82 billion in gratuity payments to 985 retirees across the state public service.
The disbursement targets 509 beneficiaries from the 2020 batch, as well as 476 outstanding retirees spanning the 2015 to 2019 batches. The beneficiaries include workers from mainstream civil service, primary and secondary school educational sectors, and various state parastatals.
Speaking at the ceremony held at the Cocoa Conference Centre inside the Governor’s Office in Akure, Governor Aiyedatiwa described the financial payout as the discharge of a moral debt owed to those who dedicated their active years to the development of the state.
He emphasized that although his administration inherited substantial backlogs of unpaid entitlements dating back to 2015, it remains determined to clear all inherited arrears before the end of its tenure rather than avoiding the responsibility.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ondo State Pension Transition Office, Dr. Peter Akingbade, confirmed that the payments are already being processed directly into the beneficiaries’ bank accounts.
He stated that unlike previous exercises that involved partial payments, the current batch of retirees from the affected years is receiving their full lump-sum entitlements. He urged any remaining unverified retirees to present themselves for documentation to ensure they are captured in subsequent payout phases under the administration’s welfare agenda.
Representatives of the retirees and organized labor expressed gratitude for the prompt disbursement. The State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Comrade Johnson Osunyemi, noted that the state is setting a strong example nationwide in resolving long-standing pension obligations.
The event was attended by key government figures, including Deputy Governor Dr. Olayide Adelami, Secretary to the State Government Dr. Taiwo Fasoranti, and leadership representatives from both the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade Union Congress.
