Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has approved the disbursement of ₦2.396 billion to pay gratuities owed to civil servants who retired in 2016 and 2017.
The announcement was made at a flag-off ceremony in Akure, where retirees received their cheques. The Governor stated that the payment is part of efforts to clear pension backlogs inherited from previous administrations and follows the recent release of ₦1.4 billion for local government and primary school retirees.
Governor Aiyedatiwa emphasized that the disbursement is a constitutional responsibility and not a favour, highlighting that ₦180 million is released monthly to offset arrears while regular pensions are maintained.
He also noted that ₦2.236 billion was earlier paid to 2015 retirees, alongside other support measures like a ₦30,000 monthly fuel subsidy for pensioners. The simultaneous clearance of two years’ arrears was praised by officials and pensioners, with the Nigerian Union of Pensioners commending the administration’s commitment to retirees’ welfare.
