The Ondo State Governor, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has approved the disbursement of ₦2.396 billion as gratuity payments to civil servants who retired from the state service in 2016 and 2017.
The governor made the announcement on Monday during a flag-off ceremony held at the Cocoa Conference Hall, Governor’s Office, Akure, where beneficiaries received their cheques.
According to a statement posted on the state government’s official X (formerly Twitter) handle, the payment is part of the administration’s effort to clear a decade-long backlog inherited from previous governments.
“Ondo State Governor, Dr. Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has approved the payment of ₦2.396 billion gratuity arrears for retirees who exited the state civil service in 2016 and 2017, marking another major step in his administration’s effort to clear inherited pension backlogs,” the statement read.
Speaking at the event, Governor Aiyedatiwa noted that the exercise followed the recent release of ₦1.4 billion to local government and primary school retirees.
“This is not a coincidence but a product of consistent planning and sincerity of purpose,” the Governor said.
“Our retirees deserve empathy, honour, and respect — this is not a favour but a moral and constitutional duty.”
He explained that his administration adopted the “year of exit” method to ensure fairness in payment, while consistently releasing ₦180 million monthly to settle gratuity arrears and maintain prompt pension payments.
Aiyedatiwa also highlighted other welfare measures, including ₦2.236 billion paid to 2015 retirees, a ₦30,000 monthly fuel subsidy support for pensioners, and ongoing investment in infrastructure, education, and digital metering.
The Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Bunmi Alade, described the simultaneous clearance of two years’ arrears as “a first in Ondo State’s history,” while the Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners, Osuyemi, commended the governor for “restoring dignity and hope to retirees who had endured prolonged delays.”
It would be recalled that in 2024, the governor approved ₦3.2 billion for the settlement of outstanding gratuities, covering 2015 retirees under the State Pension Scheme.
Of the amount, ₦1 billion was earmarked for local government retirees from 2012 and 2013, while ₦2.2 billion was used to offset gratuity owed to 2015 state pensioners.
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