The Oyo State Government has disbursed the sum of ₦1 billion for the payment of gratuities and death benefits to another batch of retired Local Government staff and public primary school teachers, in a continued effort to improve the welfare of pensioners across the state.
At the flag-off ceremony held at the Mini Hall of the Local Government Staff Training School, Secretariat, Ibadan, the Chairman of the Local Government Staff Pension Board, Hon. Akeem Ademola Ige, praised Governor Seyi Makinde for his unwavering commitment to the well-being of retirees.
According to Hon. Ige, the monthly allocation for retirement benefits has been increased by Governor Makinde three times in the past year—from ₦250 million to ₦500 million, and now to ₦1 billion. “This gesture is aimed at fast-tracking the completion of payments and expanding the number of beneficiaries,” he said.
He further noted that the governor is on track to clear all inherited gratuity and death benefit arrears before the end of his tenure in May 2027.
In his remarks, Bashorun Akinwale Solomon Akinwole, Chairman of the Oyo State Local Government Service Commission, applauded the governor’s leadership, saying his administration has brought positive transformation across various sectors since 2019.
Alhaji Lukman Akinola Muraina, Permanent Secretary of the Local Government Staff Pension Board, revealed that a total of ₦1.65 billion was approved for the current phase of payment, benefiting 454 retirees.
Pension union leaders, including Comrades Muniru Adesope, Dosu Akinpelu, and Hon. Yusuff Temitope, hailed the governor as “pensioners’ friendly,” citing his consistent delivery of welfare packages to senior citizens in the state.
Some of the beneficiaries—Mrs. Amoo Caroline Abosede, Mr. Aderinto Ademola, and Mrs. Ogungbade Funmilayo Adejoke—expressed their gratitude and offered prayers for the governor’s continued wisdom and success.
Other dignitaries in attendance included Pastor Adeola Oduola, Permanent Secretary, Ibadan Zone 1; Comrade Ayodabo Joel, NUP State Trustee 1; Comrade Ricketts Olasupo, State Secretary, Retired LG Staff Wing; Comrade Tunji Ogunwale, State Secretary, Retired Primary School Teachers Wing; and various NUP branch chairmen and department heads.
