By Our Reporter 

Ondo State Governor, Mr Lucky Aiyedatiwa, on Monday, brightened the faces of hundreds of retired civil servants as he approved the bulk payment of ₦2.396 billion in outstanding gratuities to 2016 and 2017 retirees in the state public service.

The event, held at the Cocoa Conference Centre, Governor’s Office, Akure, marked another milestone in the governor’s commitment to clearing the backlog of pension and gratuity arrears inherited by his administration.

Speaking at the ceremony, Governor Aiyedatiwa said the exercise was a continuation of a deliberate policy to ensure that every retiree receives their entitlement in a fair, transparent and timely manner.

He explained that the payment was not coincidental but a product of consistent planning and fiscal discipline, coming barely a week after his government disbursed over ₦1.4 billion to local government and primary school retirees.

“This is the culmination of our administration’s sincerity of purpose and unwavering resolve to honour men and women who gave their strength, intellect and years of service to the development of Ondo State,” the governor declared.

Aiyedatiwa noted that his government adopted the “year of exit” method as the only criterion for gratuity qualification, to eliminate bias and confusion from the process.

He added that retirement should be seen not as an end but as a dignified transition deserving of honour and respect.

Reaffirming his commitment to pensioners’ welfare, the governor said, “We are resolutely committed to clearing all backlog of gratuity obligations. Our retirees deserve empathy, honour and respect. This is not an act of favour; it is a moral and constitutional duty we hold dear.”

He recalled that since assuming office, his administration had consistently released ₦180 million monthly to offset gratuity arrears while ensuring the prompt payment of pensions at both state and local government levels.

Highlighting other achievements in the welfare and infrastructure sectors, Governor Aiyedatiwa mentioned the payment of ₦2.236 billion to 2015 retirees, the introduction of a ₦30,000 monthly allowance for pensioners as fuel subsidy support, and massive investments in solar-powered streetlights, road projects, and digital infrastructure.

He also cited the O’Datiwa Metering Programme, which has installed over 15,000 meters within a year, and the approval of a six-kilometre road linking Scab Filling Station to Imafon.

He urged retirees to enrol in the Ondo State Health Insurance Scheme to ensure easy access to medical services, describing health as the foundation of happiness and longevity.

Earlier in her remarks, the Permanent Secretary, Pension Transitional Department, Mrs Bunmi Alade, praised the governor for prioritising retirees’ welfare despite competing financial demands.

She disclosed that the ₦2.396 billion payment marked the first time in the state’s history that two full years of gratuity arrears were cleared simultaneously.

In his goodwill message, the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Ondo State Chapter, Comrade Johnson Osuyemi, commended Governor Aiyedatiwa for restoring hope to retirees who had endured years of delay in receiving their benefits.

He said the governor had demonstrated genuine empathy and responsiveness to the plight of pensioners, noting that the monthly stipends being paid by the government had become a lifeline for many.

The event was attended by top government officials, including the Speaker of the Ondo State House of Assembly, Rt. Hon. Olamide Oladiji; Chief of Staff to the Governor, Prince Segun Omojuwa; Head of Service, Mr Bayo Philip; members of the State Executive Council and House of Assembly, as well as senior civil servants and retirees.