Gov. Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo has promised to pay the backlog of gratuities for primary school teachers and local government retirees in the state.

Mr Aiyedatiwa made the pledge at the commencement of the fourth tranche payment of outstanding gratuities to the pensioners on Friday in Akure.

He said the sum of N2.5 billion has been earmarked for the payment of 2013 outstanding gratuity to local government retirees.

“Under our watch, a system of regular warehousing of funds for gratuity payment to pensioners both at the state and local government levels has been put in place and assisted.

“I’ll like to use this occasion to pledge our irrevocable commitment to this plan until the last kobo of gratuity owed retirees in Ondo State is finally liquidated,” he said.

The governor further said the payment was not for political gains but to express the sincerity of his administration on the provision of welfare and infrastructure to the people of the state.

He also said that his administration would continue to accord special care to the elderly and vulnerable persons.

Mr Aiyedatiwa thanked the people of the state for voting for him in the Nov. 16 governorship election and promised to deliver good governance for the benefit of all.

The head of service, Bayo Philip, said that the governor was known for putting smiles on the faces of pensioners.

“If people pretend not to see anything, they cannot deny this. The governor is determined to upset all gratuities in the state,” Mr Philip stressed.

In his remarks, the state president of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP), Johnson Osunyemi, appreciated the governor’s effort, especially the payment of consequential adjustments in pensions.

(NAN)