…Aiyedatiwa vows to end gratuity backlog
…Cautions pensioners against high-risk investments, fraudsters

Governor of Ondo State, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, on Thursday flagged off the payment of N3.897 billion in gratuities to 1,038 verified retirees of the local government service, primary school teachers, and non-teaching staff who retired in 2016.

The payment held at the Cocoa Conference Centre, Governor’s Office, Akure, the state capital, represents the fifth batch of the bulk payment of gratuities to local government retirees and primary school teachers.

Aiyedatiwa stated that the payment was neither a favour, gift, nor political largesse, but a moral and constitutional obligation owed to the retirees for their years of dedicated service to the state.

He said the funds would be transferred directly into the beneficiaries’ accounts as part of measures to ensure transparency and prevent gratification or the use of personal connections to access their entitlements.

According to the governor, the payment was intended to bring relief to senior citizens who dedicated their most productive years to the development of the state.

Aiyedatiwa emphasised that some senior citizens retired into penury while others died without enjoying the fruits of their labour, assuring their surviving families that their sacrifices would not be forgotten.

He urged retirees not captured in the latest batch to remain calm, assuring them that his administration is determined to clear the gratuity backlogs for retirees in both 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,” Aiyedatiwa said.

He also disclosed that a special programme under the ORANGHIS Scheme had been designed to cater for the health needs of senior citizens at no cost, urging them to take advantage of it.

While appreciating the retirees for their patience, trust, and perseverance, the governor urged them to use the funds prudently and avoid speculative and high-risk investments.

He also warned them against fraudsters targeting retirees, advising them to prioritise their health, peace of mind, and household comfort.

The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Amidu Takuro, said the gratuity payment had progressed from 2010 to 2016, adding that the governor had directed that another payment exercise must be conducted before the end of the year.

Also speaking, the Head of Service, Segun Odusanya, recalled that the governor had the previous week flagged off the payment of almost N4 billion in gratuities to state retirees, describing the latest exercise as memorable.

The State Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners, Comrade Johnson Osunyemi, commended the governor for prioritising pensioners’ welfare and ensuring payment of their benefits.