Oyo govt. increases monthly allocation to offset gratuities

Oyo state government on Wednesday disclosed that the monthly allocation for the payment of backlog of unpaid gratuities has been increased from #230million to #235million with the promise of upward review of the amount as the State finances improve.

The government also informed that it has resolved to start paying gratuity to officers of the State Government that retired from 2019 till date so as to further reduce the backlog of unpaid gratuities to retirees from the State service.

The decision, according to the State Commissioner for Information, Culture and Tourism, Dr Wasiu Olatubosun was reached at the last Executive Council meeting of the State on Tuesday.

Olatunbosun explained that the Council, at its 27th meeting of September 29, 2020, directed that a proposal to offset the backlog of unpaid gratuities of retired staff and an initiative to ensure the payment of gratuities of retiring staff in the Oyo State Civil Service as soon as they retire, be urgently initiated by members of a committee comprising the Secretary to the State Government, Head of Service, Attorney-General and Commissioner for Justice, Commissioner for Establishment and Training, Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, as well as the Commissioner for Finance.

“The committee presented its findings and recommendations at the last Executive Council meeting and it was proposed that the sum of #50million be set aside to cater specially for officers retiring from the service between May, 2019, and May, 2023, with a view to benchmarking the performance of the present administration in the payment of gratuity of civil/public servants.

“In view of this, the need for a modulated payment of gratuity was proposed and this has scaled up the monthly payment of #230million to#235million for the payment of the monthly release for the backlog of unpaid gratuities till the commencement of this administration, so as to keep up the pace at which the inherited backlog of the gratuities are being paid.

“The council also agreed that the increment is going to be reviewed upward as time goes in relation to improvement in the State’s financial power”, he said.

The commissioner, however  noted that payment of salaries, pensions and gratuities have been paramount to the Seyi-Makinde led administration, assuring that  no stone would be left unturned to promote the welfare of workers and retirees.