Aiyedatiwa Clears Backlog,Disburses N3.82bn Gratuities to 985 Ondo Retirees

​AKURE — Ondo State Governor, Hon. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has flagged off the payment of N3.82 billion in full gratuities to 985 public service retirees, reinforcing his administration’s commitment to clearing inherited liabilities.

​The latest disbursement, launched at the Cocoa Conference Centre in Alagbaka, Akure, covers the 2020 batch alongside outstanding beneficiaries from 2015 to 2019. The beneficiaries comprise 509 retirees from the 2020 batch and 476 from the 2015–2019 batches, drawn across the mainstream civil service, secondary school teaching and non-teaching cadres, and state parastatals.

​Speaking at the ceremony, Governor Aiyedatiwa described the clearance of the legacy arrears as a “debt of honour” owed to citizens who dedicated their active years to building the Sunshine State. He noted that despite inheriting a multi-billion naira backlog spanning nearly a decade, his administration chose to confront the challenge head-on rather than shy away from responsibility.

​”Governance is not only about initiating new projects; it is equally about confronting inherited challenges and resolving them,” Aiyedatiwa stated. “We remember your service; we respect your sacrifice; and we will not forget your entitlement.”

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​Permanent Secretary of the Ondo State Pension Transition Office, Dr. Peter Akingbade, disclosed that beneficiaries are receiving their full entitlements rather than fractional payouts, bringing immediate financial relief and renewed dignity to the senior citizens. He credited the seamless execution of the exercise to the strategic financial backing of the state government under the OUR EASE agenda.

​Akingbade also lauded the collaborative efforts of the Commissioner for Finance, Mrs. Omowunmi Isaac, and the Head of Service, Sir Segun Odusanya, in ensuring the steady implementation of the Defined Benefit Scheme. He noted that the verification and payment process remains continuous for any remaining eligible participants.

​Reacting to the development, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) in Ondo State, Comrade Johnson Osunyemi, commended the governor, declaring that Ondo State now stands among the foremost states in the federation actively liquidating backlog payments owed to retired workers.

​Beneficiaries echoed similar sentiments, praising the administration for turning a new leaf in pensioners’ welfare and executing a transparent, merit-based disbursement process free from bureaucratic bottlenecks.