Oyo state government on Thursday delivered N204 million cheques to a new set of retirees for their gratuities in Ibadan, bringing total gratuities payment by the state government for the year 2018 to over N1.5 billion.
The pensioners consist of civil servants and teachers across all grade levels who retired in 2012.
While presenting the cheques to beneficiaries at the old Ministry of Establishment and Training, State Secretariat, the Head of Service in the state, Mrs Olawumi Ogunesan, said the payment was another demonstration of the Governor Abiola Ajimobi administration’s commitment to the welfare of workers and pensioners who sweat daily to ensure that government meets its obligations to the society.
Ogunesan, who was represented by the Acting Permanent Secretary, Office of the Head of Service, Mrs Adejoke Eyitayo, assured that the government would continue to pay gratuities based on merit.
She added that government was making efforts to ease the pains of the pensioners in the state, stressing that the disbursement was done to make life easier for the senior citizens, who had served the state meritoriously.
While advising beneficiaries not to venture into any business in which they do not have adequate knowledge, Ogunesan urged those who are yet to receive theirs not to lose hope. She pointed that the government was working hard to meet their expectation.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Mr Kazeem Mudathir thanked Governor Abiola Ajimobi for releasing the huge sum as in spite of paucity of funds. He also commended the government for following the procedure laid down in selecting beneficiaries.
The state had disbursed over N1 billion last year for the same purpose, bringing smile to the faces of retirees.
