Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State has paid N1 billion as a gratuity for teachers of primary schools and Local Government staff who retired from service in 2012.
Aiyedatiwa flagged off the second batch of the bulk payment of outstanding gratuities to the pensioners on Tuesday. He said the gesture was an avowed commitment of his administration towards the welfare of the generality of the State.
The governor explained that the gesture was a rare privilege to put smiles on the faces of senior citizens who had served the state meritoriously in the public service of the state.
His words “Remarkably, this is happening again within these few months of my assumption of office as Governor. You would recall that in November 2023, the First Batch of this innovative bulk payment of outstanding gratuities of our former Local Government Staff and Primary School Teachers was carried out.
“In January 2024, another flag-off of payment of one billion and two hundred million Naira was also performed right here for the year 2014 pensioners of the State Civil Service. These payments altogether, provided a great relief for a large number of our senior citizens, thus serving as a motivation for us to decide on yet another batch within a few months,” he stated.
Aiyedatiwa promised that retirees of the leftover arrears of the preceding years would also be wholly settled.
According to him, the welfare of retirees is not negotiable and pensions shall be paid continually every month.
His words: “It is in furtherance of our avowed commitment that we have gathered to flag off the payment of a bulk payment of one billion Naira to continue the defrayal of outstanding gratuity to pensioners who retired after meritorious services to our dear State.”
The Governor said his administration had changed the narrative by ensuring that gratuities were paid without any political coloration nor connection with the corridor of power.
Aiyedatiwa said his administration was implementing a system that would ensure payment of gratuity based on a year of exiting the public service.
“We have a sacred duty to ensure that pensioners are considered for payment of gratuity largely on verifiable criteria and indices that embrace equity, justice, fairness, and good conscience. It is, therefore, not out of place to admonish you to utilize your money judiciously making your health and welfare a priority.
“We encourage pensioners who do not fall within this bracket to keep hope alive as it will surely get to their turn. Our administration will not rest on its laurels as we owe a sacred duty to maximize the happiness and welfare of our people. It is at the core of our agenda that no senior citizen, who after a meritorious service to our dear State, should go to bed hungry,” he stated.
The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Amidu Takuro highlighted the efforts of the Aiyedatiwa-led government in putting the welfare of the people of the state as a priority.
Takuro in his address said “Mr Governor has placed priority on the welfare of our people; you told us that the suffering of pensioners was creating an ache in us and that we must do something urgently; that we must diverse means of paying their gratuities.
“This passion of Mr Governor brought this idea of bulk payment of gratuities in the state. According to you, one must get his money after retirement and have a better living. Now, we have been able to clear all gratuities before 2012 and this is the first phase of payment for 2012 retirees,” he said.
The Commissioner promised that the government would soon pay the second phase of gratuity for 2012 retirees.
In his remarks, the State Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners ( NUP), Comrade Johnson Osunyemi, said that he was emotional because the Governor was mindful of the pensioners.
Osunyemi appreciated the Governor for considering the affairs of the Pensioners, praying that God would also put a smile on the face of the Governor.
He said the State had never had it so good; adding that the union would continue to mobilize good support for the Governor.