Ondo State Governor, Lucky Aiyedatiwa, has commenced the disbursement of ₦3.897 billion in gratuities to 1,038 retirees of the Local Government Service and primary school system who retired in 2016.
Aiyedatiwa flagged off the payment on Thursday, September 10, 2026, at the Cocoa Conference Hall of the Governor’s Office in Akure.
The exact amount approved for the exercise is ₦3,897,315,605.75, with the beneficiaries to receive their entitlements directly in their bank accounts.
The development was disclosed by Famakinwa Abooluwa, Director of Information in the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, in a statement made available to journalists on Friday, September 11, 2026.
Aiyedatiwa described the payment as an obligation to workers who served the state, assuring retirees excluded from the current batch that the administration would continue addressing the outstanding gratuity backlog.
He acknowledged that some retirees had died before receiving their benefits and urged beneficiaries to use the money prudently and avoid high-risk investments.
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The governor also said senior citizens could access free healthcare through the Ondo State Residents Health Insurance Scheme, ORANGHIS.
Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Amidu Takuro, said the payment programme had progressed through retirement batches from 2010 to 2016, despite the financial burden involved.
He disclosed that another gratuity payment exercise was expected before the end of the year.
The Head of Service, Segun Odusanya, commended the governor for prioritising the welfare of serving and retired public workers.
The latest disbursement follows the ₦3.82 billion payment commenced on September 2 to 985 state retirees, covering beneficiaries from the 2020 batch and outstanding retirees from earlier years.
The payments form part of the administration’s phased effort to clear accumulated gratuity obligations in Ondo State.