Tag: Aiyedatiwa

Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has cleared N1.4 billion backlog of gratuities owed retired local government workers and primary school teachers, who exited service in 2014.

Speaking at the launch in Akure yesterday, the governor described the gesture as a continuation of the bulk gratuity payment initiative he introduced while serving as deputy governor – aimed at clearing outstanding entitlements and restoring confidence among retirees.

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He said the disbursement followed his administration’s structured payment process, which used the year of exit from public service as the sole qualification criterion to ensure fairness, transparency and predictability.

Aiyedatiwa added that the bulk payments for 2011, 2012 and 2013 sets under his administration were unprecedented in the history of the state.

He stressed that prompt payment of pensions and gratuities was not an achievement, but a moral and constitutional duty.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Adeniran Ikuomola, who represented the Head of Service, hailed the governor’s compassion and prioritisation of pensioners’ welfare.

Ondo Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has cleared a total of N1.4 billion backlog of unpaid gratuities to retired local government workers and primary school teachers who exited service in 2014.

Speaking at the flag-off ceremony in Akure on Monday, Governor Aiyedatiwa described the gesture as a continuation of the bulk gratuity payment initiative he introduced while serving as Deputy Governor – aimed at clearing outstanding entitlements and restoring confidence among retirees.

He explained that the disbursement followed his administration’s structured payment process, which uses the year of exit from public service as the sole qualification criterion to ensure fairness, transparency, and predictability.

“I started this even when I was Deputy Governor. I presented the case to the then governor, who approved it, and we began saving money periodically. Whenever we had a favourable allocation, we set aside funds to settle retirees’ gratuities. This will continue now that we are fully in charge,” Aiyedatiwa said.

He added that the bulk payments for the 2011, 2012, and 2013 sets under his administration were unprecedented in the history of the state.

“Today, we are exiting 2014, and very soon, we will exit 2015, and so on, until everyone is cleared,” the Governor said.

“Since our assumption of office, we have paid serious and deliberate attention to the welfare of pensioners. Ondo is one of the few states in Nigeria that approved an upward review of a flat rate of ₦30,000 for pensioners to cushion the effects of the current economic hardship.”

He stressed that the prompt payment of pensions and gratuities was not an achievement but a moral and constitutional duty.

“We are often reluctant to list prompt payment of pensions as an achievement because it is our obligation. However, compared to times when pensions were paid in percentages or fractions, there is reason to celebrate,” he said.

Aiyedatiwa noted that the disbursement would rekindle hope among pensioners and reassure serving workers that their gratuities would be promptly paid after retirement.

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He also announced that the next of kin of three local government staff who lost their lives in a motor accident while on official duty to Niger State would receive cheques for their terminal benefits.

Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Adeniran Ikuomola, who represented the Head of Service, commended the Governor’s compassion and prioritisation of pensioners’ welfare.

“Most of these retirees left service about 11 years ago and are now in their seventies. The Governor could have used N1.4 billion for other things but chose to prioritise the elderly,” he said.

Ikuomola advised beneficiaries to use the money wisely, pay attention to their health, and enrol in the state’s Contributory Health Scheme.

Also speaking, the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Amidu Takuro, praised the governor for initiating the pension savings scheme that now ensures regular gratuity payments.

“A week ago, when you asked about our savings balance and we told you, you said, ‘What are you waiting for? Pay them now!’ You also instructed that every quarter, funds must be saved for pensioners, he recalled.

Chairman of the National Union of Pensioners (NUP) in the state, Johnson Osunyemi, lauded the governor for restoring dignity to retirees and rekindling their hope. 

The opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) and the governing All Progressives Congress (APC) in Ondo State have traded words over the performance of Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa since his assumption of office.

While PDP accused Aiyedatiwa of failing to address the suffering of citizens despite the huge federal allocations and Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) accruing to the state, APC dismissed the claims as spurious and politically-motivated.

Speaking yesterday in an interview on Radio Nigeria (Positive 102.9 FM Akure), monitored by The Nation, the PDP Chairman, Dupe Aisida, described Aiyedatiwa’s government as “cosmetic” and “failing in leadership.”

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Aisida alleged that residents across the 18 local governments were groaning under poor governance and lack of tangible development by the current administration.

He lamented the absence of new infrastructural projects and decay of existing ones.

“Governance is not a game. We’re talking about the lives of millions of people. If anybody is in power, it is for us to tell them when they’re not getting it right. If they’re doing well, we commend them,” Aisida said.

“Politics aside, it is our duty to tell the government – it’s our money. We are all taxpayers. Whatever comes in belongs to every indigene of this state. We must ensure the government remains on its toes and spends the money judiciously.

“If you really want to know whether the government is doing well or not, just talk to ordinary people on the streets. The truth of the matter is that the government needs to sit up.”

The PDP chair noted that the state capital, Akure, had “never been this dirty,” alleging that state resources were being channelled into projects that did not reflect the needs of ordinary citizens.

He faulted Aiyedatiwa administration’s decision to build new apartments for political office holders, while citizens grappled with soaring rents and housing shortages.

Aisida also raised concerns over alleged irregularities in the recent teacher recruitment, citing reports of fake appointment letters and extortion of applicants.

“This government must sit up. People are suffering, and they need solutions, not window dressing,” he said.

In a swift reaction, APC described the allegations as false and misleading.

The party’s Director of Media and Publicity, Steve Otaloro, said the governor had introduced several palliatives, farmer empowerment programmes and market stabilisation interventions to cushion economic hardship on residents.

He maintained that projects in health, education, agriculture, security and road infrastructure were ongoing across the state, dismissing PDP’s description of “cosmetic governance” as a baseless attempt to discredit visible progress.

“Clinics are being rehabilitated, schools supported and contractors are at work on bona fide projects across the state. These are measurable, verifiable investments – not cosmetics,” he said.

On allegations of neglect in Akure, the APC spokesman said sanitation and road rehabilitation efforts were ongoing and challenged the opposition to provide verifiable instances of neglect for immediate action.

Otaloro also defended the provision of official accommodation for public officers as a cost-saving measure, reiterating the government’s commitment to affordable housing schemes for citizens.

Responding to the teacher recruitment controversy, he described the exercise as a well-received initiative, insisting that claims of fake letters and extortion were “irresponsible.”

He, however, assured citizens that a verification mechanism was in place and pledged to investigate any credible report of malpractice.

Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has urged Nigerian students to exercise patience with President Bola Tinubu’s administration, saying the ongoing economic reforms are beginning to produce positive macroeconomic outcomes.

Aiyedatiwa, who acknowledged the hardship being experienced by citizens, assured that the current challenges were temporary and that the reforms were necessary to stabilize the nation’s economy.

Speaking during a meeting with students’ representatives on Wednesday at his office in Akure, the governor said Nigeria would have been in a worse situation if the President had not implemented the reforms.

“It’s a temporary hardship that is easing up. The reforms are yielding results and benefits, and they are making the economy better. If these reforms had not been implemented, Nigeria would have been worse off today,” Aiyedatiwa said.

The governor reiterated his administration’s renewed focus on technical and vocational education, describing it as crucial for industrial growth and job creation.

According to him, the state government is giving special attention to technical education as more investors arrive in the state in need of skilled labour.

He reaffirmed his government’s commitment to supporting education and youth development through scholarships, grants, and other financial interventions, commending student leaders for their responsible conduct, which he said had sustained peace across campuses in the state.

“Since I became governor, there has been no student unrest. You have engaged constructively without any form of violent agitation,” he said.

Aiyedatiwa emphasised the need for public-private collaboration to address accommodation challenges faced by students, urging investors to build hostels within and around campuses to complement government efforts and improve student security.

“The government cannot provide everything. Resources are limited. That’s why we are calling on investors to build hostels for students. It’s a viable venture that will also enhance student security,” he added.

As part of measures to improve student welfare, the governor announced the approval of five new buses for student unions across tertiary institutions in the state, with more to be provided subsequently.

Highlighting his administration’s infrastructural efforts, Aiyedatiwa cited the ongoing reconstruction of the Akungba–Ikare road, which he said was initiated to reduce road accidents and boost local commerce.

“We had to reconstruct that road because of the high rate of accidents near Akungba University. It’s a technical road, but we’ve started it and we will complete it,” he assured.

He also pledged to resolve electricity challenges at the Federal University of Technology, Akure (FUTA), to enhance academic and research productivity.

The Commissioner for Youth and Sports Development, Mr Segun Omoyofunmi, lauded the governor’s consistent engagement with youths, describing him as a listening leader who has doubled bursaries and scholarships for students and introduced an under-17 football competition to promote youth empowerment.

Similarly, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Students’ Affairs, Comrade Kelvin Solomon Olaolu (KSO), lauded the governor’s calm leadership style and support for the student community.

“In the history of student unionism in this state, we have maintained peace and order because of your leadership style. You have been a father to us, and we appreciate your efforts in increasing bus allocations and extending support to private institutions,” he said.

Student leaders from various institutions used the occasion to highlight pressing issues in tertiary education, including accommodation, transportation, and security.

The President of the Niger Delta Students’ Union, Comrade Martins Ayemoluwa, called for the development of the Niger Delta region as a hub for innovation and investment, advocating for improved solar energy and marine science projects in the state.

Also, the Chairperson of the National Female Students Association of Nigeria (NFSAN), Ondo Chapter, Comrade Precious Ikuenomore, urged the governor to prioritize the safety of female students, citing the unsafe distance of female hostels from the University of Medical Sciences campus.

The NANS JCC Chairman, Comrade Mayomi Adekanye, commended the governor’s responsiveness but appealed for consistency in addressing student concerns, especially in accommodation and transportation.

Also, the NAOSS President, Comrade Temitope Alade, called for the establishment of security outposts near campuses and the revival of NDDC scholarships, while the NAUS Chairman, Comrade Adegoriola Abejoye, praised the governor for fulfilling about 80 percent of previous promises but urged the timely delivery of buses, road repairs, and employment opportunities for student stakeholders.