The Ondo State Government says it is set to begin bulk payment of gratuity arrears of 2014 local government retirees and primary school teachers.
The state Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Amidu Takuro, who made this known in a statement on Saturday in Akure, said it’s part of efforts to improve the quality of lives of senior citizens of the state.
Takuro said successive governments owed gratuities or at most paid in piece meal and only those who had influence in the government benefited.
The commissioner explained that Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa, felt the pains of the retirees and decided to clear the backlog of gratuities his predecessors were unable to pay.
“ For those that retired between 2010 – 2013, we have paid almost N12 billion because these people have provided their services meritoriously to the people of Ondo State.
“They have retired for many years and they haven’t been paid , though not under this administration but government is a continuum.
“ Mr Governor is passionate about these people and he has taken good leadership step to address the situation. By Monday, we will pay the 2014 retirees of the local government,” he said.
The commissioner said that it was worrisome that some retirees would try to negotiate with him in order to be paid their gratuities, the offer which he said he rebuffed.
“When I resumed to this office, 80 per cent of people that came to my office for help were pensioners; they would even be negotiating , telling me that they would give me particular percentage just for them to be paid their gratuities.
“ I felt sorry for them and I said we must do something to address their plights and that they don’t need to know me before they receive their gratuities.
“Though, we still have a long way to go in the payment of gratuities, but with the purposeful leadership of Gov. Aiyedatiwa , we are sure to leave a landmark in the sand of time,” he said.