Ogun State governor Dapo Abiodun doubles quarterly gratuity payments

Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, has approved an immediate increase in the quarterly payment of gratuity from N1 billion to N2 billion, marking a 100 per cent increase for both state and local government pensions.

Adesoji Adewuyi, Permanent Secretary of the Bureau of State Pensions, announced the decision at his office in Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta.

He described the move as part of the government’s efforts to alleviate the hardships faced by senior citizens amid current socio-economic challenges in the country.

Adewuyi also revealed that the government has allocated three percent of the increased gratuity specifically for pensioners with urgent medical needs or hospital bills.

In addition, Adewuyi noted that the state government has established a Consequential Adjustment Committee to review pensioners’ monthly incomes in line with current economic realities.

Under the new arrangement, monthly pensions, which should be reviewed every five years, will now be N10,000 for those earning below the benchmark.

“In 2023, the governor approved the payment, and it is being paid pending the conclusion of the general review of the monthly pension by the Consequential Adjustment Committee,” he said.

Waheed Oloyede, Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners (NUP), expressed gratitude to Governor Abiodun for the increase, noting that it would help pensioners cope with the country’s economic challenges.