A new set of retirees yesterday received N204 million cheques for their gratuities in Ibadan, the Oyo State capital.
It brought the total gratuities payment by the state government for last year to over N1.5 billion. Eighty-one civil servants and teachers on all grade levels, who retired in 2012, received N204,235,185.06 as gratuities.
Presenting the cheques to the beneficiaries at the old Ministry of Establishment and Training of the state secretariat, the Head of Service (HoS) Mrs Olawumi Ogunesan said the payment was another demonstration of Governor Abiola Ajimobi administrationโs commitment to the welfare of workers and pensioners who sweat daily to ensure that government meets its obligations to the state.
Ogunesan, who was represented by the Acting Permanent Secretary in the Office of the Head of Service, Mrs Adejoke Eyitayo, assured the beneficiaries 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.
According to her, the disbursement was done to make life easier for the senior citizens, who had served the state meritoriously.
Advising the beneficiaries not to venture into any business in which they do not have adequate knowledge, Ogunesan also urged those who had not received their entitlements not to lose hope.
She said the government was working hard to meet their expectation.
On behalf of the beneficiaries, Mr Kazeem Mudathir thanked Governor Ajimobi for releasing the money, despite the paucity of funds in the state.
He hailed the government for following the procedure laid down in selecting the beneficiaries.
The state, last year, disbursed over N1 billion for the same purpose, bringing smiles to the faces of its retirees.
