The Ondo State government announced on Tuesday that it would commence the payment of all backlogs of gratuities for primary school teachers and local government retirees in the state soon.
The State Commissioner of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Amidu Takuro, disclosed this while speaking with journalists in Akure, Ondo State. He mentioned that about N1 billion had been earmarked to settle the gratuities.
Takuro recalled that Governor Rotimi Akeredolu had promised to offset all outstanding arrears inherited from the previous administration. According to him, the present administration inherited about seven months of backlog in salary arrears, leave bonuses, pensions, and gratuities.
He stated that Akeredolu’s government has been sensitive to the plight of the people and workers in the state, prioritizing workers’ welfare. “The last tranche of 142 percent of salary arrears for local government workers has been paid with the September salary,” he added.
“While grappling with the payment of the huge liabilities inherited, such as salary arrears, pensions, and leave bonuses, the government had no choice but to pay the gratuities,” Takuro said.
He further explained that as the economic situation bites harder, the government had to take necessary steps to ameliorate the effect of hardship on retirees. Governor Akeredolu had approved N1 billion to begin the payment of gratuities for retirees of local government and primary school teachers, starting with 2011 and part of 2012.
“This en bloc payment, which will be flagged off at 10 am at the Dome on Thursday, will be a continuous process,” he said.”
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