Ondo State has begun disbursing a monthly stipend of ₦20,000 to at least 5,400 elderly residents across its 18 local government areas, a move aimed at cushioning the economic burden on vulnerable seniors. The programme, which targets individuals aged 70 and above without formal retirement pensions, was announced by the Commissioner for Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs, Alhaji Amidu Takuro, during a government event on pension and gratuity payments in October 2025.
Scope and Implementation
The stipend is being rolled out across all 18 LGAs, including Akoko North-East, Akoko North-West, Akoko South-East, Akoko South-West, Akure North, Akure South, Ese-Odo, Idanre, Ifedore, Ilaje, Ile-Oluji/Okeigbo, Irele, Odigbo, Okitipupa, Ondo East, Ondo West, Ose, and Owo. According to Takuro, each LGA has a minimum of 300 beneficiaries, bringing the total to at least 5,400. He noted that the initiative is part of Governor Lucky Orimisan Aiyedatiwa's broader strategy to use local government resources for direct support to vulnerable residents.
The government has indicated that the number of beneficiaries could increase as the programme evolves. The stipend is separate from payments to retired government workers. In October 2025, the Aiyedatiwa administration also began paying ₦1.6 billion in outstanding gratuities to retired local government workers and primary school teachers. Takuro added that the government has directed that a portion of available funds be saved quarterly to support pensioners' gratuities.
Context and Comparisons
The elderly stipend is part of a wider local-government welfare package that includes support for young people, women, and agricultural inputs such as fertiliser and palm and cocoa seedlings. This comes at a time when the cost of food, healthcare, and other basic needs continues to pressure older Nigerians, especially those in the informal sector without contributory pensions.
Nigeria already has a federal institution, the National Senior Citizens Centre (NSCC), established under the National Senior Citizens Centre Act 2017. The NSCC coordinates programmes to improve the welfare, health, income security, and social inclusion of older people, defining older persons as those aged 60 and above. Other states have experimented with similar schemes. For instance, Ekiti State's former governor Kayode Fayemi introduced the Owo Arugbo social security scheme in 2012, providing monthly stipends to indigent elderly residents. The programme was discontinued by Ayo Fayose's administration in 2014 but was reintroduced when Fayemi returned to office in 2018. Contemporary reports put the original monthly payment at ₦5,000.
Abia State has taken a legislative approach. Governor Alex Otti signed the Senior Citizens Welfare Bill into law, with Law No. 4 of 2025 establishing the Abia State Senior Citizens Centre and providing for welfare and healthcare support for residents aged 60 and above.
Challenges and Concerns
Cash-transfer programmes in Nigeria have faced questions over targeting, payment delays, and transparency. The Africa Network for Environment and Economic Justice (ANEEJ), a civil society organisation, has monitored federal cash-transfer programmes across several states and repeatedly highlighted weaknesses in implementation. During a 2022 monitoring exercise, ANEEJ reported that cash payments in communities created security risks and suggested that beneficiaries with bank accounts could be considered for easier electronic transfers.
More recent complaints have emerged about beneficiary selection. In November 2025, residents of the Ero community in Ifedore Local Government Area of Ondo State alleged irregularities in the Federal Government's conditional cash-transfer programme, including claims that deceased people appeared on beneficiary lists while some living residents were excluded. These concerns are crucial for Ondo's programme because the value of a cash transfer depends not only on the amount paid but also on whether the right people receive it consistently.
Future Outlook
A ₦20,000 monthly payment can provide immediate relief to an elderly person struggling to buy food or meet basic expenses. However, fixed cash payments can lose purchasing power as prices rise. The long-term test for Ondo will be whether the programme can maintain accurate beneficiary records, prevent political interference, ensure payments reach beneficiaries in full and on time, and remain funded beyond the tenure of the administration that introduced it.
