Ondo state government has flagged off a payment of N1billion as gratuity to teachers and local government workers who retired in 2011.
Special adviser to the governor on union matters and special duties, Dare Aragbaiye, said the N1billionn was sourced from the October allocation from the federation account, explaining that some pensioners who retired in 2012 were paid while those the government termed as distressed also benefitted from the payment.
Aragbaiye said the payment marked gradual defrayment of the backlog of gratuity arrears for retirees of Local Government and Primary school teachers, promising that another tranche would be paid within the first quarter of next year.
Meanwhile, the commissioner for local government and chieftaincy affairs, Takuro Amidu, said the payment of the gratuity was an initiated of the Governor who ensured that some money was saved every month.
He said the Akeredolu administration has fully paid all outstanding salaries and pensions including allowances for all retirees left by the previous administration.
