Ogun State Government has commenced the payment of N3.503 billion in outstanding liabilities owed 526 former local government political office holders across the state.
The beneficiaries served in the 2016–2019 and 2020–2024 administrations at the local government and Local Council Development Area (LCDA) levels.
They include former chairmen, vice-chairmen, secretaries to local governments, supervisors, special advisers and councillors.
In a statement issued on Tuesday by the Special Adviser to Governor Dapo Abiodun on Media and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, the government said the payment totalled N3,503,489,479.56.
According to the settlement was part of the administration’s commitment to ensuring that legitimate inherited liabilities were cleared.
“As a responsible and people-centred government, we have taken the bold step to clear them in full. This is in line with the Governor’s policy of not leaving any legitimate liability unpaid,” he said.
He explained that the exercise followed a verification and reconciliation process conducted by the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, the State Audit Department and the Local Government Service Commission.
According to him, verified beneficiaries had been paid through their respective bank accounts, while those who had not received payment alerts due to account-related issues were advised to approach the ministry with the necessary documents.
Speaking during the presentation of cheques at the Oba’s Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, the beneficiaries commended the state government for settling the outstanding severance allowances.
Representatives of the beneficiaries, Hon. Okunade Adebayo and Hon. Abosede Balogun, described the payment as a demonstration of the government’s commitment to good governance and the welfare of political office holders.
They commended the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs for what they described as a transparent, orderly and seamless verification and payment process.
A former Chairman of Ijebu Ode Local Government, Hon. Emiola Ghazal, described the settlement as “unprecedented” in the state.
“This is unprecedented in Ogun State. We never believed a government could take responsibility for entitlements owed by its predecessor despite what the predecessor put the governor through.
“The governor is truly a promise keeper,” Ghazal said.
He said the payment demonstrated Governor Abiodun’s commitment to addressing legitimate obligations and would strengthen the confidence of beneficiaries and grassroots stakeholders in the administration.
The former political office holders urged serving local government officials to remain committed to quality service and expressed hope that the government would sustain policies aimed at improving the welfare of workers and other stakeholders.
