By Ayodele Oni
Almost 22 years after retirement, Primary School Teachers and Local Government workers in Ondo State are set to receive their gratuities.
The State Government announced on Tuesday that it is now set to begin enblock defraying of backlog of gratuities owed primary school teachers and local government retirees with one billion Naira.
The Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Amidu Takuro, who disclosed this in Akure, explained that those affected are part of debt inherited by the present administration.
“On assumption of office, the Akeredolu led government inherited seven months backlog of salary arrears, leave bonuses, pensions and gratuities which it had to defray.
“Being a Government that is sensitive to the plight of the people, it prioritized workers’ welfare, so salaries, pensions and leave bonuses were number one.
“The last tranche of 142 percent of salary arrears of local government workers was paid with September Salary.”
Takuro added that while grappling with the payment of the huge liabilities inherited as salary arrears, pensions and leave bonuses, the government had no choice but to pay the gratuities it could pay, in piece meal.
According to the commissioner, as the economic situation bits harder, the government has to do something as a matter of necessity, to ameliorate the effect of the hardship on retirees.
He said the Governor approved One Billion Naira to begin enblock payment of gratuities of retirees of local government and primary school teachers, starting with 2011 and part of 2012.
He promised that the enblock payment will be a continuous process.
