By Destiny Obinna
The Ogun State Government has cleared N3.503 billion in outstanding severance allowances owed former political office holders across the state’s 20 local government councils and Local Council Development Areas (LCDAs).
The payment, which benefited 1,042 former officials who served between 2016 and 2024, was made known on Tuesday during a cheque presentation ceremony at the Oba’s Complex, Oke Mosan, Abeokuta.
The beneficiaries included former council chairmen, vice-chairmen, secretaries to local governments, supervisors, special advisers and councillors.
The state government said the settlement was part of efforts by the administration of Governor Dapo Abiodun to clear legitimate financial obligations inherited from previous administrations.
In a statement issued by the governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Strategy, Kayode Akinmade, the government said N3,503,489,479.56 was released for the payment.
Akinmade disclosed that 526 former political office-holders who served from 2016 to 2019 were covered by the exercise, while 516 others from the 2020–2024 tenure also received their entitlements.
He said the beneficiaries were subjected to a verification and reconciliation process involving the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, the State Audit Department and the Local Government Service Commission.
According to him, those whose claims were successfully verified had the funds paid directly into their bank accounts.
He added that beneficiaries who had not received payment alerts due to problems with their bank details should visit the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs with the necessary documents for further action.
Akinmade said the decision to settle the debt reflected the administration’s
