The Ondo State Government has cleared gratuity arrears of local government retirees of 2012 and 2013 with N2 billion within a month interval.
Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, in his speech at the flag off ceremony of the payment, said he took the step to address the backlog of gratuity arrears inherited by his administration.
Aiyedatiwa assured the people of the state that the government would continue to advance the welfare of the people,saying no segment would be left out, especially the veterans who had served the state in their prime.
“ Today’s payment is coming just a few weeks after N1billion was paid to retirees. As you are aware, this administration inherited, a huge backlog of gratuity to retirees and sadly some of them have passed away without receiving their entitlements during their life time”.
“ Our ultimate focus is to ensure not only regular payment of workers’ salaries and retirees’ pensions but also payment of gratuity as and when due.
“Our well-conceived approach to gratuity payment is to tackle the frightening arrears which has, more or less, made our respectable retirees to lose hope”
“By this sure and steady mode of bulk payment, all retirees should be rest assured that sooner than later, the backlog of gratuities would be fully paid.
“We consider this a duty despite other pressing financial commitments of government and the limited resources available,” he stated.
He added that his administration would continue to provide basic infrastructures across the state and the leave the state better than it met it without equivocation.
“As our finances improve, more special interventions will be made to gradually defray the backlog of arrears of subsequent years, God willing!
“Let me therefore, appeal to other retirees who are yet to have their turn, to be patient with the government as they will be taken care of as soon as possible,” he assured.
Earlier, The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Amidu Takuro, expressed his appreciation to the Governor.
Takuro, while acknowledging the hardship that retirees had faced and highlighting the governor’s genuine concern for their well-being, said that the state Governor had a passion of alleviating the pain being felt by retirees.
“ The governor took the bold step of bulk payment of gratuities of retirees because of the passion toward ma alleviating their pain.
“ The felt that the retirees could not live a life they desire after serving the state meritoriously. Based on this, Mr Governor told us that we should do everything possible to make sure that we prioritize the payment of their entitlements.
“ If you can recollect, just like a month ago, we paid a sum of N1 billion for gratuity of those that retired in 2012 at the local government and that of primary school teachers.
“ And today, those that were not paid then have been paid because another N1 billion has been given for the payment and that of 2013,” he stated.
According to him, in the next 12 months, backlog of gratuity arrears will be paid.
Comrade Johnson Osunyemi, Chairman Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) in the state also appreciated the governor for taking into cognizance, the welfare of pensioners.
One of the beneficiaries, Mr Adedayo Ajayi, who was highly elated,praised the governor for his ingenuity towards the retirees.
In his goodwill message, the Ondo State Head of Service, Mr Bayo Phillips, appreciated the governor for his resolve to defray gratuity backlog arrears.
“All over the country, owing backlog of gratuity is a problem. You took the bull by the horn to defray that of Ondo State,” he said.
The Head of Service added that the positive implication of the governor’s action was that the the civil service in the state felt safe in his hands.
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