Accra, Nov. 1, GNA - The Government of Ondo State of Nigeria has paid outstanding pensions and gratuities to more than 1,500 retired primary school teachers and local government workers amounting to 1.4 billion naira. The Governor of the State, Dr Olusegun Mimiko personally handed over the cheques to some of the pensioners at a ceremony in Akure.

Speaking at the function, Dr Mimiko said the gesture was in line with his administration's policy of "A Caring Heart" and his desire to bring joy and hope into the lives of the people of the State, adding that relieving the pensioners of their plight was paramount to his administration, hence the quick intervention instead of waiting for the Federal Government to pay. He said he was greatly touched to do something about the situation when he got to know that 466 out of the 1,551 retired primary school teachers and local government staff, representing about 31 per cent of them had died without getting their terminal benefits.

Dr Mimiko said: "Our Administration has resolved that instead of paying these benefits piecemeal without making the intended economic impact on the pensioners, we decided to pay out in lump sum, a total of N1.4billion which is the total amount owed all primary school pensioners and retired local government staff in Ondo State."

The Governor announced that in order to ensure that the retirees were not subjected to unnecessary hardships while trying to collect their entitlements, six payment stations had been created, two in each of the three Senatorial Districts in the State.

Many Ghanaian teachers were engaged by the Ondo State Government in the 1970s but some returned home without being paid their pensions.