Published by Osasere Edomwonyi Ikpoba
Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has flagged off the payment of N3.82 billion in full gratuities to 985 retirees of the state public service, describing the disbursement as a "debt of honour" owed to those who devoted their productive years to the service of the Sunshine State. The ceremony, held at the Cocoa Conference Hall, Governor's Office, Alagbaka, Akure, on Wednesday, September 2, 2026, marks a significant step in the administration's systematic effort to clear inherited gratuity arrears dating back to 2015.
The beneficiaries comprise 509 retirees from the 2020 batch and 476 outstanding beneficiaries from the 2015 to 2019 batches, drawn from the mainstream civil service, secondary school teaching and non-teaching staff, and state-owned parastatals. According to the Ondo State Pension Transition Office, retirees from 2015 Batch C, 2016 Batch C, 2017 Batch C, 2018 Batch B, 2019 Batch B, and 2020 Batch A are being paid and have already started receiving bank alerts.
Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, Aiyedatiwa said his administration inherited billions of naira in outstanding gratuity obligations covering the period from 2015 to date. "We did not shy away from this burden. Rather, we confronted it with courage, responsibility and a clear understanding that governance is not only about initiating new projects; it is equally about confronting inherited challenges and resolving them," he stated. The governor noted that the administration had successfully defrayed outstanding gratuities for 2015 to 2019 and described the payment to the 2020 batch as "another giant step forward".
Aiyedatiwa pledged to clear all inherited gratuity arrears before the end of his tenure, stressing that government had a responsibility to fulfil its obligations to workers who had served the state. He emphasised that the exercise was not merely a financial intervention but a demonstration of the administration's appreciation for the service and sacrifice of retirees. "We remember your service; we respect your sacrifice; and we will not forget your entitlement," he said.
The Permanent Secretary of the Ondo State Pension Transition Office, Dr Peter Akingbade, confirmed that beneficiaries would receive their full gratuity entitlements rather than partial payments, describing the development as a milestone that would bring relief, dignity, and renewed hope to retired workers. He attributed the payment to the governor's commitment to senior citizens' welfare under the administration's "OUR EASE" agenda and commended the Commissioner for Finance, Mrs Omowunmi Isaac, and the Head of Service, Mr Segun Odusanya, for their contributions to the process. Akingbade said the gratuity payment process remained continuous and urged retirees yet to complete their verification and documentation to come forward.
Representatives of the retirees and the Nigeria Union of Pensioners hailed the governor for the payment. Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mrs Nike Ogunbodede thanked the governor for the gesture, describing it as unprecedented in the state. The state chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Comrade Johnson Osunyemi, commended Aiyedatiwa, saying Ondo State is now among the leading states in the country in clearing the backlog of gratuities owed to retired workers.
The event was attended by the Deputy Governor, Dr Olayide Adelami; Secretary to the State Government, Dr Taiwo Fasoranti; APC State Chairman, Hon. Kolawole Babatunde; Chief of Staff, Prince Segun Omojuwa; Head of Service, Mr Segun Odusanya; and members of the State Executive Council. The latest payment brings the state closer to its stated objective of clearing inherited gratuity arrears and improving the welfare of retired public servants. Aiyedatiwa reiterated his commitment to settling outstanding obligations to retirees while pursuing other development programmes across the state.
📩 Stone Reporters News | 🌍 stonereportersnews.com
✉️ info@stonereportersnews.com | 📘 Facebook: Stone Reporters News | 🐦 X (Twitter): @StoneReportNew | 📸 Instagram: @stonereportersnews
Add comment
Comments