Former political office-holders across Ogun State’s 20 local government councils and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs) have praised the state government for settling ₦3.503 billion in outstanding severance allowances owed them.
The beneficiaries spoke on Tuesday during the presentation of cheques at the Oba’s Complex, Oke-Mosan, Abeokuta, describing the payment as a demonstration of the government’s commitment to good governance and the welfare of political office-holders.
The beneficiaries, who served between 2016 and 2024, include former chairmen, vice-chairmen, secretaries to local governments, supervisors, special advisers and councillors.
According to a statement signed by the Special Adviser on Media and Strategy to Governor Dapo Abiodun, Kayode Akinmade, the total payment amounted to ₦3,503,489,479.56.
Akinmade said the outstanding liabilities covered 526 former political office-holders from the 2016–2019 tenure and 516 from the 2020–2024 tenure.
He said the settlement was in line with the administration’s policy of 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,” Akinmade said.
He explained that the exercise followed verification and reconciliation by the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, the State Audit Department and the Local Government Service Commission.
Akinmade added that verified beneficiaries had been paid through their bank accounts, while those yet to receive payment alerts due to account-related issues were advised to approach the ministry with the relevant documents.
Speaking on behalf of the beneficiaries, Okunade Adebayo and Abosede Balogun commended the state government for fulfilling the obligation, saying the payment showed that their contributions to grassroots development had not been forgotten.
They also praised the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs for what they described as a seamless, transparent and orderly process.
Another beneficiary, Emiola Ghazal, a former chairman of Ijebu Ode Local Government, described the settlement as “unprecedented” in Ogun 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 added that the gesture demonstrated Governor Abiodun’s compassion and strengthened the confidence of beneficiaries and other grassroots stakeholders in the administration.
Ghazal also suggested that the payment could have political implications for the All Progressives Congress (APC) ahead of the 2027 general elections.
The beneficiaries urged serving political office-holders to remain committed to quality service and expressed hope that the administration would sustain policies aimed at promoting the welfare of workers and other stakeholders.
