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Governor Ademola Adeleke of Osun State announced on Monday that his administration had paid over N47 billion in gratuities to retirees since November 2022. This total, he emphasized, is greater than the N34.4 billion paid by his predecessors, Rauf Aregbesola and Adegboyega Oyetola, over the last 12 years.
At an event in Osogbo, where N1.9 billion in bond certificates were presented to contributory pensioners from the state and local government services, Governor Ademola Adeleke underscored his administration’s determination to confront the difficulties facing pensioners. He stressed that improving their conditions remains a key focus of his government’s policies.
Reflecting on the gratuity payments by previous administrations, Adeleke stated, “Former Governor Aregbesola’s payment as of 2018 totalled N17.15bn, while former Governor Oyetola’s payment as of 2022 amounted to N17.25bn. Together, the two administrations paid N34.4bn over 12 years.
“In just two years, my administration has paid N22.67bn for state pensions and N25bn for local government pensions, bringing the total to over N47bn. This means we have paid almost 70 per cent of what the previous APC administrations paid in 12 years, within just two years.”
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In his address, the governor reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to pension reforms, assuring pensioners that their personal concerns would be addressed while making significant improvements to the pension administration framework.
“We are committed to ensuring that pensioners are treated with the dignity and timeliness they deserve,” he said.
The distribution of bond certificates forms a vital part of the state government’s broader strategy to overhaul pension administration, aiming to offer retirees more reliable financial security in their retirement years.
