From: Laide Raheem, Abeokuta
In its continued efforts to offset backlog of gratuities of retired civil and public servants in Ogun State, the Senator Ibikunle Amosun-led administration has again released N1.7 billion for the payment of gratuities to another batch of 685 pensioners.
Addressing the beneficiaries in Abeokuta, the Ogun sState capital, Head of Service, Mr. Abayomi Sobande, commended the retirees for their patience and understanding which culminated into the resolve by government to give what was due to them.
Sobande said that government was concerned with the comfort and welfare of the retired civil servants despite the economic situation in the country, pleading with those that have not been paid to exercise patience as the payment was done in batches.
He added Ogun State government would not relent in giving them their entitlements.
In his remark, the Permanent Secretary, Bureau of State Pensions Board, Mr. Babatunde Agbaje, assured the beneficiaries that cheques for all those that retired from January to June 2013 were ready for collection.
The state government had earlier disbursed the sum of N1.5 billion to the first batch of retirees between July to December, 2012.