Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has released the sum of N3.2bn for the payment of the third batch of pensioners in the state.
The money, according to him, comprised N2bn to pay local government retirees of 2012 and 2013 and N2.2billion in gratuities to state civil service retirees.
Governor Aiyedatiwa, in his speech at the flag-off ceremony of the payment, said he took the step to address payment of the backlog of gratuity arrears inherited by his administration to advance the welfare of the people.
Aiyedatiwa insisted that no segment of the society would be left out in his welfare package especially veterans who had served the state in their prime.
He said his administration’s ultimate focus was to ensure regular payment of workers’ salaries, retirees’ pensions and gratuity
“Our well-conceived approach to gratuity payment is to tackle the frightening arrears which have more or less, made our respectable retirees to lose hope”
“By this sure and steady mode of bulk payment, all retirees should be rest assured that sooner than later, the backlog of gratuities would be fully paid.”
Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Amidu Takuro, expressed optimism that the backlog of gratuity arrears would be paid within the next 12 months.
“ The governor took the bold step of bulk payment of gratuities of retirees because of the passion toward ma alleviating their pain.
“They felt that the retirees could not live the life they desire after serving the state meritoriously. Based on this, Mr Governor told us that we should do everything possible to make sure that we prioritize the payment of their entitlements.
“ If you can recollect, just like a month ago, we paid a sum of N1 billion for gratuity of those that retired in 2012 at the local government and that of primary school teachers.