Oyo Govt Disburses N2bn Gratuity to Retired LG Staff, Primary School Teachers

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony held at the Local Government Staff Training School, Secretariat, Ibadan, the Chairman, Local Government Staff Pension Board, Akeem Ige, disclosed that the governor approved the sum for the June and July payment exercise. He noted that the Makinde-led administration has so far disbursed over N25 billion from the inherited N36 billion backlog of gratuities.

“We must commend the governor for his consistency in making life more comfortable and meaningful for pensioners through unprecedented welfare packages since assuming office in May 2019,” Ige stated.

In his address, the Permanent Secretary, Local Government Staff Pension Board, Alhaji Lukman Akinola Muraina, urged retirees to avoid middlemen when processing their entitlements. He revealed that the Board would soon commence a sensitisation programme for prospective retirees across the state’s geo-political zones. Muraina also praised the governor’s pensioner-friendly policies.

The State Secretary of the Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP), Oyo Chapter, Comrade Olusegun Abatan, lauded the governor for prioritising pensioners’ welfare. “We no longer die like fowls. God will give us another good leader like Seyi Makinde in 2027 because we don’t want to return to the era of unpaid gratuities,” he said, adding that the least paid pensioner now earns N25,000 monthly. He urged beneficiaries to use their entitlements wisely.

Similarly, the President of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE), Oyo State Chapter, Comrade Ayobami Adeogun, praised Governor Makinde’s commitment to workers’ and pensioners’ welfare, noting that pensioners in other states now envy Oyo.

“Workers are no longer afraid of retirement as pensions are paid promptly. With the release of all outstanding promotion letters up to 2024, there will be no need for recomputation of retirement benefits,” Adeogun said.

Leaders of retired primary school teachers and local government staff, Comrade Dosu Akinpelu and Alhaji Muniru Adesope, also commended the governor and congratulated the beneficiaries. Representatives of the beneficiaries, including Mrs Ogunjobi Cecilia, Mr Adebiyi Olukunle, Mrs Oyerinde Musili, and Mrs Johnson Oluyemisi, expressed gratitude to Governor Makinde for his benevolence and prayed for his continued success.

The gratuity disbursement was carried out simultaneously across the state’s geo-political zones, with symbolic cheque presentations to beneficiaries.

The event was attended by permanent secretaries from all zones, local government chairmen, NUP executives, heads of local government administrations, directors of the LGSPB, and other dignitaries.