Ondo State Governor, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has flagged off the payment of ₦1.4 billion gratuity arrears to retirees from the local government and primary school system who exited service in 2014.
According to a statement by the Chief Press Secretary to the Governor, Prince Ebenezer Adeniyan, the event held in Akure on Monday, October 13, 2025, marked another phase in the state government’s commitment to offset accumulated gratuity arrears and improve the welfare of retired workers.
Governor Aiyedatiwa said the initiative was a continuation of the bulk gratuity payment system he introduced as Deputy Governor to ensure fairness, transparency, and predictability in pension administration.
He said, “I started this even when I was Deputy Governor. I presented a case to the then Governor, which he approved for us and we started that initiative of saving money. Periodically, any time we have an allocation that is good enough, we put some money aside to settle the gratuities of our retirees. This will continue now that we are fully in charge as Governor.
“This exercise being undertaken today is in line with our payment process, which has the year of exit from public service as the only factor for qualification for payment. We thank God Almighty for enabling us to restore hope to our pensioners, who before now had lost hope of ever being paid their gratuity in full after meritorious service to the state and humanity in general.”
The governor noted that the payments for retirees of 2011, 2012, and 2013 under his administration were unprecedented, adding that the 2014 batch would soon be followed by the 2015 set. He stressed that pension and gratuity payments were not achievements but moral obligations of government.
He said, “Most times, we feel reluctant to list prompt payment of pension allowances and consequential adjustments as achievements, because payment of monthly pensions to our senior citizens is our obligation. However, when we compare the current period with times when pensions were paid in percentages and fractions, there is reason to celebrate.”
Governor Aiyedatiwa also announced that the next of kin of three council workers who died in a motor accident in Niger State would receive cheques for their terminal benefits, describing it as a gesture to ease their pain.
The Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Adeniran Ikuomola, who represented the Head of Service, commended the governor’s compassion toward retirees, saying the decision to release ₦1.4 billion for gratuity despite other priorities showed genuine leadership.
The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Amidu Takuro, and the State Chairman of the National Union of Pensioners (NUP), Johnson Osunyemi, also praised the governor for sustaining the pension savings scheme and restoring hope to pensioners.
The event was attended by top government officials, including Deputy Governor Dr. Olayide Adelami, Secretary to the State Government Dr. Taiwo Fasoranti, and SUBEB Chairman Rt. Hon. Victor Olabimtan.
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