Ondo Begins N3.9bn Gratuity Payment to 2016 LG, Primary School Retirees
By Staff Reporter
The Ondo State Government has commenced the payment of N3.897 billion in outstanding gratuities to 1,038 retirees of the Local Government Service and Primary School Teachers and Non-Teaching Staff who retired in 2016.
The payment, which marks the fifth batch of the state’s bulk gratuity settlement programme, was formally flagged off by Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa on Thursday at the Cocoa Conference Centre, Governor’s Office, Akure.
A total of N3,897,315,605.75 is being disbursed to the verified beneficiaries.
Aiyedatiwa said the payment was not a favour or political gesture but a moral and constitutional obligation to workers who devoted their productive years to the service of the state.
He said the money would be transferred directly into the beneficiaries’ bank accounts to promote transparency and eliminate the need for personal connections or gratification in accessing their entitlements.
The governor said his administration was determined to ensure that retirees who spent their working years serving Ondo State were not abandoned in their later years.
According to him, some senior citizens retired into penury, while others died before receiving the benefits of their years of service.
He assured retirees yet to be included in the current batch that his administration would continue working towards clearing the backlog of gratuities owed retirees in both the State and Local Government Services.
“We stand by our unwavering commitment to ensuring that ‘gratuity backlog’ becomes a thing of the past. We are determined like never before to fulfil this promise to all our retirees both in the State and Local Government,” the governor said.
Aiyedatiwa said the commitment was in line with his administration’s “OUR EASE” agenda, which seeks to improve the living conditions of retirees and other residents of the state.
He also disclosed that a special programme under the ORANGHIS Scheme had been introduced to provide free healthcare services to senior citizens, urging retirees to take advantage of the initiative.
While appreciating the beneficiaries for their patience and perseverance, the governor advised them to use their gratuities judiciously and avoid speculative or high-risk investments.
He equally warned retirees to be wary of fraudsters who might attempt to take advantage of the payment, urging them to prioritise their health, peace of mind and household needs.
The governor further disclosed that the Local Government Pension Transitional Department had introduced an online capturing system through its official website.
According to him, the initiative would enable pensioners, including those living outside the country, to process their retirement documents without travelling to the department or having physical contact with officials.
Speaking earlier, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Amidu Takuro, commended the governor for placing human welfare alongside infrastructure development.
Takuro said the gratuity payment programme had progressively covered retirees from 2010 through 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and now 2016.
He acknowledged that clearing the backlog, which runs into billions of naira, was a difficult task but said the administration had remained committed to the process.
The commissioner also disclosed that Governor Aiyedatiwa had directed that another round of gratuity payment be conducted before the end of the year.
Also speaking, the Head of Service, Chief Segun Odusanya, praised the governor for prioritising the welfare of public servants, both serving and retired.
Odusanya recalled that the governor had, the previous week, flagged off the payment of nearly N4 billion in gratuities to state retirees.
“Mr Governor, I cannot thank you enough for what you have done. As the Head of bureaucracy, my own capital project is the welfare of public servants, whether serving or retired,” he said.
He said the latest payment demonstrated the administration’s commitment to fair labour practices and the payment of workers’ entitlements.
The State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Comrade Johnson Osunyemi, also commended Aiyedatiwa for what he described as a compassionate approach to pensioners’ welfare.
Osunyemi said pensioners in some states were still owed pensions, gratuities and other benefits, adding that the Ondo governor had strengthened the position of pensioners in the state.
He pledged the continued support of pensioners for the administration.
The event was attended by the Deputy Governor, Dr Olayide Adelami; Chief of Staff, Prince Segun Omojuwa; members of the State Executive Council; Chairman of ALGON and Akure South Local Government, Hon. Gbenga Fasua; Director-General, OSRC Media Group, Mr Kenneth Stevenson-Odusola; former Chairman of SUBEB, Rt. Hon. Victor Olabimtan; political appointees and Permanent Secretaries.
