Ondo gratuity payment reaches N12bn as government begins clearing pension backlogs for retired LG workers, starting from 2010 to 2014

Ondo gratuity payment to retired local government workers has reached ₦12 billion, marking a significant effort by the state to clear long-standing arrears.

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Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Mr Amidu Takuro, made this known during a media briefing in Akure on Friday.

He stated that the payments cover gratuities owed from 2010 to 2014 and are part of a wider plan by Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa to prioritise retiree welfare.

According to Takuro, the funds were sourced from strategic savings made by the local governments and approved at the State Joint Allocation Account Committee (JAAC) meetings.

He explained, “We have spent between ₦10 and ₦12 billion on gratuities for retired local government workers who were long overdue. Many of them had not been paid for up to 15 years.”

Takuro emphasised that although the backlog predates the current administration, Governor Aiyedatiwa made the bold decision to begin payment, acknowledging the retirees’ service and right to their benefits.

He added that the state’s commitment to this course is aligned with President Bola Tinubu’s grassroots development vision.

According to the commissioner, several infrastructural projects have already been implemented across the 18 local councils to improve living standards and reduce rural-urban migration.

“Rural development is critical to economic stability,” Takuro said. “Providing comfort and social amenities in local areas discourages migration to urban centres and boosts food security.”

The commissioner reaffirmed that the remaining gratuity backlogs would also be addressed in due course, as the state continues its savings-driven model for sustainability.

Ondo gratuity payment remains a major challenge in the state, as with many across Nigeria, where retirees often wait years to receive entitlements.