Ondo State Governor, Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa, has flagged off the payment of N3.82 billion in gratuities to 985 retirees across the state.

The beneficiaries comprise 509 retirees from the 2020 batch and 476 retirees from the 2015–2019 batches, covering workers from the mainstream civil service, secondary schools and various state-owned parastatals.

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony, Governor Aiyedatiwa described the payment as a “debt of honour”, noting that his administration inherited billions of naira in outstanding gratuity obligations.

The governor said his administration had adopted a systematic approach to clearing the arrears and pledged to settle all inherited gratuity obligations before the end of his tenure.

According to him, governance is not limited to initiating new projects but also involves addressing financial and administrative obligations inherited from previous administrations.

“This is a debt of honour,” the governor said, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to improving the welfare of retirees who served the state.

The Pension Transition Office disclosed that the beneficiaries would receive their full gratuity entitlements rather than partial payments.

The office also urged retirees who are yet to complete the required verification process to do so to enable them to benefit from subsequent payments.

Representatives of the beneficiaries and the Nigeria Union of Pensioners commended the governor for the initiative, describing the development as a significant milestone in the state’s efforts to address outstanding pension-related obligations.

They said the payment would provide relief to retirees who had waited for several years to receive their entitlements and praised the administration for prioritising the welfare of pensioners.

The latest payment further underscores the Ondo State Government’s efforts to reduce inherited gratuity arrears and strengthen its commitment to meeting its obligations to former workers.