By SEGUN GIWA

Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State on Wednesday in Akure flagged-off the payment of N3.82 billion gratuities to 985 retirees of the state public service.

Aiyedatiwa described the exercise as a “debt of honour being discharged” to workers who devoted their productive years to the service of the state.

The payment covers 509 retirees from the 2020 batch and 476 outstanding beneficiaries from the 2015 to 2019 batches.

The beneficiaries were drawn from the mainstream civil service, secondary school teaching and non-teaching staff, as well as parastatals across the state.

“When our administration came to the saddle, we inherited billions of naira in outstanding gratuity obligations covering the period from 2015 to date.

“We did not shy away from this burden. Rather, we confronted it with courage, responsibility and a clear understanding that governance is not only about initiating new projects; it is equally about confronting inherited challenges and resolving them,” he said.

The governor said the administration had successfully defrayed outstanding gratuities for retirees from 2015 to 2019, describing the payment to the 2020 batch as “another giant step forward”.

Aiyedatiwa said the exercise was not merely a financial intervention but also a demonstration of his administration’s appreciation of the contributions of retirees to the development of the state.

“We remember your service; we respect your sacrifice; and we will not forget your entitlement,” he said.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Ondo State Pension Transition Office, Dr Peter Akingbade, said retirees from the 2015 Batch C, 2016 Batch C, 2017 Batch C, 2018 Batch B, 2019 Batch B and 2020 Batch A were being paid.

Akingbade said the beneficiaries would receive their full gratuity entitlements rather than partial payments.

He described the development as a milestone that would bring relief, dignity and renewed hope to retirees.

Akingbade explained that the payment was a result of Aiyedatiwa’s commitment to improving the welfare of senior citizens under the administration’s OUR EASE agenda.

He commended the Commissioner for Finance, Mrs Omowunmi Isaac, for her contribution to the exercise and the Head of Service, Mr Segun Odusanya, for his commitment to the welfare of retirees under the Defined Benefit Scheme.

Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mrs Nike Ogunbodede appreciated the governor for the payment, describing it as a remarkable development.

Also speaking, the state Chairman of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Comrade Johnson Osunyemi, commended Aiyedatiwa for his commitment to pensioners.

He said that the state was among the leading states in the country in clearing the backlog of gratuities owed to retired workers. (NAN)