I won't play politics with welfare of Ondo civil servants, says Aiyedatiwa
From Tosin Tope, Akure Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa promised that his administration will not politicise the welfare of civil servants as he approved the payment of N2.4 billion in
- ...distributes N2.4B gratuities to 2018, 2019 retirees
- ...733 beneficiaries get full payment
From Tosin Tope, Akure
Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa promised that his administration will not politicise the welfare of civil servants as he approved the payment of N2.4 billion in gratuities to retirees.
Aiyedatiwa made this known on Monday during the disbursement of funds to pensioners who retired in 2018 and 2019, held at the Governor’s Office in Akure, reaffirming his commitment to prioritising workers' welfare.
The governor stressed that workers and pensioners deserve dignity and prompt payment of their entitlements, noting that his government would continue to ensure regular payments without political considerations.
"This gesture clearly demonstrates our resolve to protect the welfare of both serving and retired workers with the seriousness it deserves.
"As we have consistently emphasized, we will never play politics with the welfare of our people. God willing! The Nigeria Union Pensioners (NUP), Ondo State Council, can attest to the fact that our government has been consistent in the release of intervention funds in this regard," he said.
Aiyedatiwa also assured civil servants that their welfare remains a top priority, adding that policies and programmes would continue to be driven by fairness and responsibility.
He added that the payment was part of deliberate efforts to clear the backlog of outstanding gratuities and improve the living conditions of retirees.
According to him, the exercise was not merely administrative but a fulfillment of a moral obligation to those who had served the state diligently.
"Retirement should be a period of rest and dignity rather than uncertainty. Our administration is determined to honour the sacrifices of our senior citizens by ensuring they receive their rightful entitlements," he said.
Aiyedatiwa noted that his administration inherited a significant backlog of pension and gratuity liabilities, adding that efforts were underway to clear all outstanding arrears within the shortest possible time.
The governor also urged retirees to take advantage of the Ondo State Health Insurance Scheme, which he said had been subsidised to improve access to healthcare.
He formally declared the disbursement open with the release of N2,466,336,304 to verified retirees.
In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ondo State Pension Transitional Department, Peter Akingbade, said the payment marked a major step towards clearing outstanding gratuities.
Mr. Akingbade disclosed that 733 retirees benefited from the exercise, including 391 from 2018 and 342 from 2019.
He said the beneficiaries were drawn from the core civil service, secondary school teaching and non-teaching staff, as well as parastatals across the state.
The permanent secretary added that gratuities for 2015, 2016, and 2017 (Batch B) were paid in January 2026, with over N1 billion disbursed.
He urged retirees yet to be verified to complete their documentation, noting that the payment process is ongoing.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, a 2018 retiree, Adeleye Adebanjo, expressed appreciation to the governor for the payment.
Similarly, the state chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Johnson Osunyemi, described the governor as a "saviour" to pensioners in the state.
Mr. Osunyemi recalled that the governor had earlier provided an 18-seater bus for the union, describing the gesture as one that would be remembered for years.
