Ondo State Government has approved N1 billion for the payment of gratuities to some categories of workers who disengaged from service in 2011 and part of 2012.

According to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN), Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu, who flagged off the payment, yesterday in Akure, represented by his Special Adviser on Union Matters, Dare Aragbaye, said the disbursement was necessary in spite of pressing financial commitments of the government and the limited resources.

He, however, promised that another tranche of payment would be approved for retirees in local councils and primary schools in the first quarter of 2024.

Akeredolu, who added that his administration would not allow retirees to go through any agony or plight before getting their benefits, said that there would be regular payment of gratuities to defray all arrears.

Also speaking, the state’s Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Amidu Takuro, said it was a thing of joy that the retirees could receive their benefits having worked for it.

In his remarks, the President of National Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Bola Taiwo, commended the Akeredolu-led government for paying workers’ salaries regularly as well as benefits of pensioners.

Chairman of Ondo State Pensioners Association, Johnson Osunyemi, while responding on behalf of the retirees, expressed gratitude to the state governor for the gesture to pensioners.Osunyemi said that it was only the state that had implemented an increase of pensions for retirees in the state.