Ondo govt begins payment of N3.9bn gratuity backlog to LG, primary school retirees
By Julius Alabi, Akure
The Ondo State Government has commenced the payment of N3.897 billion gratuities to 1,038 retirees of the Local Government Service and Primary School teachers and non-teaching staff who retired in 2016, as Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa vowed to clear the backlog of inherited entitlements.
The latest payment, which brings the administration’s bulk gratuity payment exercise to its fifth batch, was flagged off yesterday at the Cocoa Conference Centre, Governor’s Office, Alagbaka, Akure.
Aiyedatiwa, while flagging off the exercise, described the payment as a moral and constitutional obligation to workers who had devoted their productive years to the service and development of the state.
The governor said the payment, totalling N3,897,315,605.75, was neither a favour, gift nor political largesse, stressing that retirees deserved to receive their entitlements without having to rely on political connections.
He explained that the money would be transferred directly into the beneficiaries’ bank accounts to promote transparency and eliminate gratification and other impediments associated with accessing retirement benefits.
According to him, the gesture was designed to put smiles on the faces of senior citizens who had served the state diligently, noting with concern that some retirees had been forced into penury while others died without enjoying the fruits of their labour.
Aiyedatiwa assured surviving families and other retirees awaiting payment that their sacrifices would not be forgotten, declaring that his administration remained determined to end the backlog of gratuities across the State and Local Government Services.
“We stand by our unwavering commitment to ensuring that ‘gratuity backlog’ becomes a thing of the past. We are determined like never before to fulfil this promise to all our retirees both in the State and Local Government,” he said.
The governor said the initiative was consistent with his administration’s OUR EASE agenda, particularly its commitment to improving the living conditions and welfare of retirees and other vulnerable residents.
He also disclosed that a special programme under the ORANGHIS Scheme had been designed to provide healthcare services to senior citizens at no cost, urging retirees to take advantage of the initiative.
Aiyedatiwa, however, advised the beneficiaries to use their gratuities prudently, warning them against speculative and high-risk investments that could expose their hard-earned benefits to avoidable losses.
He also cautioned retirees against fraudsters who might attempt to exploit the payment exercise, urging them to prioritise their health, peace of mind and household comfort.
The governor further announced the introduction of an online capturing system by the Local Government Pension Transitional Department through its official website, saying the initiative would enable pensioners anywhere in the world to process their retirement documentation without visiting the department physically.
The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Amidu Takuro, commended the governor for prioritising human welfare alongside infrastructure development.
Takuro recalled that the gratuity payment exercise had progressed from the 2010 batch through 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and now 2016, stressing that clearing the backlog involving billions of naira was not an easy task.
He disclosed that the governor had directed that another payment exercise be conducted before the end of the year, describing the directive as another demonstration of his administration’s commitment to retirees.
The Head of Service, Chief Segun Odusanya, also praised Aiyedatiwa for placing the welfare of public servants, both serving and retired, at the centre of his administration.
Odusanya recalled that the governor had only the previous week flagged off the payment of almost N4 billion gratuities to state retirees, describing the two exercises as significant milestones in the state’s public service history.
“Mr Governor, I cannot thank you enough for what you have done. As the Head of bureaucracy, my own capital project is the welfare of public servants, whether serving or retired,” he said.
He said the payment demonstrated the administration’s commitment to the wellbeing of retirees and its adherence to fair labour practices, adding that the policy had culminated in the payment of full gratuities and other entitlements.
The state chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Comrade Johnson Osunyemi, described the governor’s intervention as a demonstration of compassion for pensioners.
Osunyemi, who described himself as one of the longest-serving NUP chairmen in the country, said pensioners in some states were still struggling to receive their pensions, gratuities and other benefits.
He said Aiyedatiwa had strengthened pensioners in Ondo State through his welfare policies, adding that it took “the heart of a man of God” to prioritise the plight of senior citizens.
He assured the governor of the continued support of pensioners in the state.
The event was attended by the Deputy Governor, Dr Olayide Adelami; Chief of Staff, Prince Segun Omojuwa; members of the State Executive Council; Chairman of ALGON and Akure South Local Government, Hon. Gbenga Fasua; Director-General, OSRC Media Group, Mr Kenneth Stevenson-Odusola; former Chairman of SUBEB, Rt. Hon. Victor Olabimtan; political appointees and Permanent Secretaries.
