The Oyo State Government has presented cheques totalling N180m as gratuities to 94 retired civil servants in the state.
The presentation, which was held at the state Ministry of Establishment and Training, had in attendance retired teachers, non-teaching staff, and staff of the Judicial Service Commission whose documents had been perfected as of June 2013.
The Commissioner for Establishments and Training, Prof Daud Sangodoyin, while presenting the cheques to the retirees, said the state government had paid a total of N2.9bn to about 1,900 retirees within 16 months.
The commissioner added that Governor Seyi Makinde had constituted a committee to look at ways of clearing the backlog of gratuities owed retirees whose papers had been perfected.
The Assistant Secretary, Nigeria Union of Pensioners in Oyo State, Banji Koleosho, lauded the state government for the gesture.
It was learnt that the state would commence the payment of gratuities to retirees who left the state civil service in July 2013 by November.
PUNCH