The Ondo State Government has commenced the payment of ₦3.2 billion in outstanding gratuity to pensioners in the state. The payment, which covers gratuity owed to retirees from 2015 under the State Pension Scheme, was announced by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa during a ceremony in Akure.
The governor explained that ₦1 billion would be allocated to cover the gratuity for local government retirees from 2012 and 2013, while ₦2.2 billion would address the 2015 gratuity for state pensioners.
Aiyedatiwa assured that his administration would continue to provide basic infrastructure for the people of the state and promised to make further interventions to address the backlog of arrears for subsequent years.
The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr. Amidu Takuro, and the Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners in the state, Mr. Johnson Osunyemi, commended the governor for addressing the outstanding gratuity. Beneficiaries, including Mr. Adedayo Ajayi, also expressed gratitude for the payment.