By: Patience Ikuomola
Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, on Monday commenced the disbursement of ₦2.4 billion in gratuities to retired public servants, reinforcing his administration’s commitment to workers’ welfare.
Speaking at the Cocoa Conference Centre, the governor described the payment as a crucial move to restore dignity to pensioners and address long-standing arrears.
He acknowledged the hardship many retirees had faced due to delayed benefits, stressing that retirement should offer comfort and stability, not anxiety.
“This is more than an administrative exercise; it is a moral responsibility to those who served the state with dedication,” he said, adding that his government would not politicise workers’ welfare.
“Doing the right thing will always take precedence over convenience.”
Mr Aiyedatiwa revealed that the ₦2.4 billion had been approved to clear gratuity arrears for retirees from 2018 and 2019, despite competing financial pressures.
He assured beneficiaries that plans were underway to settle outstanding payments as quickly as possible.
He also encouraged senior citizens to enrol in the state’s subsidised health insurance scheme.
The Permanent Secretary of the Pension Transitional Department, Peter Akingbade, said 733 retirees would benefit from the exercise, including 391 from 2018 and 342 from 2019.
He added that the government had earlier paid ₦1.01 billion in January 2026 to settle gratuities for retirees from 2015, 2016 and 2017 (Batch B).
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Adeleye Adebanjo, a 2018 retiree, expressed appreciation to the governor and prayed for his continued good health.
Meanwhile, the state chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Johnson Osunyemi, praised the governor’s efforts, describing him as a “saviour of pensioners” in the state.
He also noted that the administration had donated an 18-seater bus to the union in January.
The event drew several top government officials, including Deputy Governor Olayide Adelami; Speaker of the House of Assembly, Olamide Oladiji, who was represented by his deputy, Ololade Gbegudu; Secretary to the State Government, Taiwo Fasoranti; Chief of Staff, Segun Omojuwa; as well as members of the State Executive Council, permanent secretaries, political appointees and labour leaders.
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