Former political office-holders in Ogun State’s 20 local government councils and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) have hailed the state government for clearing ₦3.503 billion in outstanding severance allowances owed them.

The beneficiaries spoke on Tuesday during the presentation of cheques at the Oba’s Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, describing the payment as a demonstration of the government’s commitment to good governance and the welfare of political office-holders.

The beneficiaries, who served between 2016 and 2024, include former chairmen, vice-chairmen, secretaries to local governments, supervisors, special advisers and councillors.

In a statement signed by the Special Adviser on Media and Strategy to Governor Dapo Abiodun, Hon. Kayode Akinmade, the government said the payment totalled ₦3,503,489,479.56.

Akinmade said the outstanding liabilities covered 526 former political office-holders from the 2016–2019 tenure and 516 from the 2020–2024 tenure.

He said the settlement reflected the administration’s policy of ensuring that legitimate inherited liabilities were not left unpaid.

“As a responsible and people-centred government, we have taken the bold step to clear them in full. This is in line with the Governor’s policy of not leaving any legitimate liability unpaid,” Akinmade said.

He said the exercise followed verification and reconciliation by the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, the State Audit Department and the Local Government Service Commission.

Akinmade added that verified beneficiaries had been paid through their bank accounts, while those yet to receive alerts due to account-related issues should approach the ministry with relevant documents.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Hon. Okunade Adebayo and Hon. Abosede Balogun commended the government for fulfilling the obligation, saying it showed that their contributions to grassroots development had not been forgotten.

They also praised the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs for what they described as a seamless, transparent and orderly process.

Another beneficiary, Hon. Emiola Ghazal, a former Chairman of Ijebu Ode Local Government, described the settlement as “unprecedented” in Ogun State.

“This is unprecedented in Ogun State. We never believed a government could take responsibility for entitlements owed by its predecessor despite what the predecessor put the governor through. The governor is truly a promise keeper,” Ghazal said.

He added that the gesture showed Governor Abiodun to be “a leader with the milk of human kindness.”

Ghazal further said the development had strengthened the confidence of beneficiaries and grassroots stakeholders in the administration, adding that it could have political implications for the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.

The beneficiaries urged serving political office-holders to remain committed to quality service and expressed hope that the administration would sustain policies promoting the welfare of workers and other stakeholders.