Ondo Clears Gratuity Backlog as 733 Retirees Receive ₦2.4bn
30th March,2026
The Ondo State Government has commenced the payment of ₦2.4 billion in gratuities to 733 retirees from the 2018 and 2019 cohorts, in what officials describe as a major push to reduce longstanding pension arrears in the state.
Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa formally flagged off the disbursement on Monday at the Cocoa Conference Centre in Akure, saying the move underscores his administration’s resolve to prioritise the welfare of retired workers.
The governor noted that the payment represents a deliberate effort to restore dignity to pensioners who had endured years of delayed entitlements, stressing that retirement should not be marked by hardship and uncertainty. He added that the intervention reflects a broader commitment to fulfilling promises made to workers and retirees.
According to him, the ₦2.4 billion approved for the exercise covers verified beneficiaries from the 2018 and 2019 batches, despite competing fiscal pressures on the state. He maintained that his administration would continue to address inherited backlogs of pension and gratuity liabilities.
Aiyedatiwa also assured that steps had been put in place to clear outstanding arrears within the shortest possible time, while reiterating that workers’ welfare would not be politicised. He urged retirees yet to benefit to complete necessary verification processes and encouraged them to enrol in the state’s subsidised health insurance scheme.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Pension Transitional Department, Peter Akingbade, said the exercise marks steady progress in addressing gratuity arrears. He disclosed that 391 retirees from 2018 and 342 from 2019 are benefiting, cutting across civil servants, teachers, and parastatal staff.
Akingbade added that the payment process remains ongoing, recalling that over ₦1 billion was earlier disbursed in January 2026 to settle gratuities for 2015 to 2017 retirees under Batch B.
Speaking on behalf of beneficiaries, a retiree, Prince Adeleye Adebanjo, expressed appreciation to the state government, while the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners in Ondo, Johnson Osunyemi, described the development as a relief for pensioners who had waited years for their entitlements.
Top government officials, including Deputy Governor Olayide Adelami and Secretary to the State Government Taiwo Fasoranti, attended the event alongside labour leaders and other stakeholders.
