Ondo Govt Clears ₦2.39bn Gratuity Arrears for Retirees

Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has approved the release of ₦2.396 billion for the payment of gratuity arrears owed to retirees who left the state civil service in 2016 and 2017.

The governor made this known during a flag-off ceremony held at the Cocoa Conference Hall, Governor’s Office, Akure, where beneficiaries received their cheques.

Aiyedatiwa said the move was part of his administration’s ongoing efforts to address the backlog of unpaid entitlements inherited from previous governments. He noted that the disbursement followed the recent release of ₦1.4 billion for local government and primary school retirees.

“This is not by chance but the result of consistent planning and sincerity of purpose,” the governor stated. “Our retirees deserve empathy, honour, and respect — this is not a favour but a moral and constitutional responsibility.”

The governor explained that his administration adopted a “year of exit” approach to ensure fairness in payment, adding that ₦180 million is released monthly to gradually clear the remaining arrears while regular pension payments continue.

Highlighting other welfare measures, Aiyedatiwa said his government had earlier paid ₦2.236 billion to retirees of 2015, introduced a ₦30,000 monthly fuel support allowance for pensioners, and continued investments in infrastructure, education, and digital metering.

Permanent Secretary, Mrs. Bunmi Alade, described the clearance of two years of gratuity arrears at once as unprecedented in the state’s history.

Similarly, the Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners in Ondo State, Osuyemi, commended the governor for restoring dignity and hope to pensioners who had waited years for their benefits.

Last year, the state government also cleared ₦3.2 billion in outstanding gratuity payments to pensioners across the state.