Ondo State Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa has announced plans to explore compressed natural gas (CNG)-powered buses for civil servants as his administration considers changes to workers’ allowances and loan schemes.

The governor disclosed this on Thursday, October 15, 2026, during the 2026 Public Service Week and Public Service Lecture at the International Centre for Culture and Events, The Dome, along Igbatoro Road, Akure.

He also said his administration would progressively address outstanding pension and gratuity obligations, subject to available resources and established procedures.

The announcements come amid wider efforts by the state government to improve workers’ welfare and strengthen public service delivery.

CNG buses, allowances feature in welfare plans

Aiyedatiwa said the government was exploring the provision of CNG-powered buses to ease workers’ transportation challenges.

He also listed the review of car loans, housing loans and duty tour allowances among the administration’s welfare interventions, although he did not provide a timeline for implementing the proposed changes.

The governor said the government had cleared gratuity arrears up to 2020, while outstanding pension and gratuity obligations would be handled progressively.

He also highlighted timely salary payments, regular promotions with financial benefits, continuous training and the appointment of qualified officers to accounting officer positions.

Government reports recruitment of teachers, health workers

The governor said his administration had recruited more than 2,000 teachers for public primary and secondary schools and about 3,323 medical personnel, including doctors and nurses.

The recruitment figures highlight the government’s efforts to strengthen staffing in two essential public service sectors.

However, the announcement did not provide a breakdown of the recruits by profession, their deployment across the state or the extent to which the new personnel have reduced staffing gaps in schools and health facilities.

Aiyedatiwa also said the Orange Health Insurance Scheme, known as ORANGHIS, was supporting public servants and their dependants, with organised labour and retirees participating in the initiative.

The governor did not disclose the number of beneficiaries covered by the scheme.

Governor demands measurable improvements in service delivery

Beyond workers’ welfare, Aiyedatiwa called on civil servants to embrace accountability, professionalism, discipline, diligence and innovation.

He said the administration’s OUR EASE agenda must produce measurable improvements in the quality, speed, transparency and accessibility of public services.

The governor described public servants as strategic partners in governance, responsible for translating government policies into outcomes that improve citizens’ lives.

He also announced plans to recognise serving and retired civil servants, individuals, organisations and ministries, departments and agencies for exceptional performance in their substantive roles or special assignments.

Also Read: Fidelity Bank’s Oil, Gas Financing Earns National Recognition 

Head of Service calls for digital transformation

Ondo State Head of Service Segun Odusanya urged public servants to put accountability, professionalism and citizens’ welfare at the centre of their responsibilities.

He called for the removal of bureaucratic bottlenecks, digital transformation and stronger collaboration among ministries, departments and agencies.

Odusanya also acknowledged government interventions in workers’ welfare, including salary payments, recruitment, capacity development, support for retirees, health insurance and the payment of terminal examination fees for children in public primary and secondary schools.

He thanked the governor for supporting the state’s public service.

Former Head of Service Akin Adaramola, who chaired the occasion, urged civil servants to uphold integrity, merit, impartiality, professionalism and selfless service.

Retired permanent secretary proposes five-year reform plan

Delivering the public service lecture, retired Federal Permanent Secretary Ambassador Sulaiman proposed a comprehensive five-year reform programme to transform the public service into a modern, results-oriented institution.

He called for modernised administrative structures, strategic deployment of personnel, measures to address skills gaps and stronger collaboration across government institutions.

Sulaiman argued that the success of public service reforms should be judged by the tangible benefits delivered to citizens rather than the number of policies introduced or institutions established.

The lecture placed emphasis on a central challenge facing public administration: ensuring that policy announcements and administrative reforms translate into better services for residents.

What the proposed measures mean for residents

The proposed transport support and review of allowances could affect workers’ commuting costs and other work-related expenses if implemented.

Similarly, the reported recruitment of teachers and medical personnel could strengthen education and healthcare delivery, depending on deployment, available facilities and the resources needed to sustain the additional workforce.

However, the government has yet to announce a specific implementation timetable for the proposed CNG buses or the planned reviews of allowances and loan schemes.

For residents and public servants, the key test will be whether the announced measures lead to practical improvements in transportation, retirement payments, access to public services and the efficiency of government institutions.

Other dignitaries at the event included Deputy Governor Olayide Adelami, Secretary to the State Government Taiwo Fasoranti, Chief of Staff Segun Omojuwa, members of the State Executive Council, permanent secretaries, traditional rulers and political appointees.

Ondo State Government has begun the payment of N3.897 billion in gratuities to 1,038 retirees of the Local Government Service and primary schools who retired in 2016.

Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa flagged off the payment on Thursday at the Cocoa Conference Centre, Governor’s Office, Akure, describing the exercise as the fifth batch of bulk gratuity payments to local government retirees and primary school teachers and non-teaching staff.

The exact amount approved for the latest batch is N3,897,315,605.75.

Aiyedatiwa said the payment was an obligation owed to retirees for their years of service, rather than a favour or political gesture.

“We stand by our unwavering commitment to ensuring that ‘gratuity backlog’ becomes a thing of the past.”

The governor said the money would be paid directly into beneficiaries’ bank accounts to improve transparency and prevent people from relying on personal connections or gratification to access their entitlements.

Government promises to clear backlog

The governor acknowledged that some retirees had experienced severe financial hardship after leaving public service, while others had died without receiving the full benefits of their years of work.

He assured retirees who were not included in the latest batch that his administration would continue working to clear outstanding gratuities owed to workers in both the state and local government services.

The governor said the effort formed part of his administration’s “OUR EASE” agenda, which he said was aimed at improving living conditions for residents, including retirees.

He also disclosed that the government had introduced a special programme under the ORANGHIS Scheme to provide free healthcare services for senior citizens.

Aiyedatiwa urged retirees to use their payments carefully, warning against speculative investments and fraudsters who may target beneficiaries after receiving their money.

Online pension processing introduced

The governor also announced an online capturing system introduced by the Local Government Pension Transitional Department.

He said the platform would allow pensioners, including those living outside Nigeria, to process their retirement documentation remotely without having to visit the department or have physical contact with officials.

The move is expected to reduce the need for repeated physical visits by pensioners and make the processing of retirement documents easier.

Payments have moved through several retirement years

Ondo Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Amidu Takuro, said the gratuity payments had progressed through several retirement years, beginning with retirees from 2010.

He listed the years covered so far as 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015 and now 2016.

Takuro acknowledged that clearing the backlog involved billions of naira but said the latest payment showed continued progress.

He added that Governor Aiyedatiwa had directed that another payment exercise be conducted before the end of 2026.

“Building infrastructure without building human beings is nothing,” Takuro quoted the governor as saying.

Nearly N4bn paid to state retirees

Ondo Head of Service, Chief Segun Odusanya, said the latest exercise came shortly after the governor flagged off the payment of almost N4 billion in gratuities to state retirees.

Odusanya described the two exercises as significant steps towards improving the welfare of former public servants.

“Mr Governor, I cannot thank you enough. As the Head of bureaucracy, my own capital project is the welfare of public servants, whether serving or retired,” he said.

He said the payments reflected the administration’s stated commitment to fair labour practices and the welfare of workers after retirement.

Pensioners welcome payment

The State Chairman of the Nigerian Union of Pensioners, Johnson Osunyemi, also commended the governor for prioritising the payment of pensioners’ benefits.

Osunyemi said pensioners in some other states were still waiting for pensions, gratuities and related entitlements.

He described Aiyedatiwa’s intervention in Ondo as compassionate and pledged the continued support of pensioners to the administration.

The latest payment means retirees who left the Local Government Service and primary school system in 2016 are now being included in the state’s ongoing effort to address accumulated gratuity obligations.

However, the government has not provided a completion date for clearing all outstanding gratuity liabilities. It has instead said further payment exercises will continue, with another exercise expected before the end of the year.

The Chairman and Group Chief Executive Officer of Adron Group, Aare Adetola Emmanuelking, has joined political leaders, business executives and other prominent Nigerians in celebrating the 60th birthday of Ogun State First Lady, Mrs Bamidele Abiodun.

In a goodwill message jointly signed with his wife, Olori Aderonke Emmanuelking, the businessman described Mrs Abiodun as “an icon of courage, compassion and charisma whose life continues to inspire hope, uplift humanity and exemplify purposeful public service.”

The tribute comes as the First Lady marks her Diamond Jubilee, a milestone supporters say reflects decades of service, advocacy and community development.

Why it matters

As First Lady of Ogun State, Mrs Abiodun has championed programmes focused on women, children and vulnerable groups, making her one of the state’s most recognisable advocates for social welfare.

Public figures often use milestone celebrations to reflect on leadership and public service, while such tributes also highlight the growing role of partnerships between government, businesses and civil society in addressing social challenges.

The tribute

Emmanuelking said the First Lady’s six decades have been characterised by dedication to humanity, exemplary leadership and an ability to positively influence lives through humility, kindness and compassion.

He described her 60th birthday as a celebration of a woman whose life reflects the qualities associated with a diamond—”resilient, refined, enduring, and radiant through every season.”

The Adron Group Chairman also commended Mrs Abiodun’s support for Ogun State’s development agenda, particularly initiatives aimed at improving the lives of women, children and other vulnerable people.

According to him, her contributions to public service and human development deserve lasting recognition across Nigeria.

He prayed that God would grant her “excellent health, renewed strength, abiding peace, and many more years of purposeful living,” while giving her greater opportunities to continue advancing humanitarian causes.

He also wished the First Lady “a joyous 60th birthday and a new decade filled with greater accomplishments, divine favour, and enduring fulfilment.”

What’s next

Mrs Abiodun’s 60th birthday celebrations are expected to attract dignitaries from government, business and civil society, while attention is likely to remain on the impact of the social initiatives associated with her office.

Stakeholders say the occasion also provides an opportunity to assess how public-private partnerships can further improve the lives of vulnerable residents in Ogun State.