Governor Lucky Aiyedatiwa of Ondo State has been begged to settle the outstanding Duty Tour Allowance (DTA) owed to the security personnel who served under the late Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu.
The affected individuals include police officers, Department of State Services (DSS) personnel, drivers, and Amotekun operatives, who are still waiting for their payments.
A police officer, speaking anonymously revealed that the delayed payments have caused financial hardships and debts for some of the security personnel.
Tragically, some security personnel have lost their lives without receiving their allowances, highlighting the urgency of the situation.
The officer stressed that they’re not asking for handouts, but rather seeking payment for the benefits they’re entitled to.
Interestingly, Governor Aiyedatiwa has just signed the 2025 budget, which includes improved welfare provisions for public servants and retirees.
However, the outstanding Duty Tour Allowance (DTA) payments remain unresolved, despite the security personnel’s efforts to bring this to the governor’s attention through various channels.
DTA is a monetary benefit given to an officer in the Federal Public Service of Nigeria to cover lodging and food expenses during approved tours.
The National Salaries, Incomes and Wages Commission reviews allowances periodically and issues circulars to specify the rates.
As of September 1, 2022, the DTA rates for Federal Public Officers were: GL 16 – 17 and its equivalent: ₦37,500 per night; GL 14 – 15 and its equivalent: ₦25,000 per night among others.
According to the officers, they have exhausted all avenues to get Governor Aiyedatiwa’s attention regarding the unpaid money, but unfortunately, their efforts have been unsuccessful.
He said: “I’m among policemen in late Governor Akeredolu’s government before he died in December 2023. While working in the convoy of Late Akeredolu (Aketi) then, the state government is owing us a certain amount of money – Duty Tour Allowance.
“Working with Akeredolu in Ibadan, some of us even owe some debts in Ibadan till this moment.
“Then in late Akeredolu’s convoy, we had the police, DSS, drivers and the Amotekun operatives.
“Just within one year we have lost one policeman, a DSS personnel and one driver. They all died without collecting their money.”
He added, “We have approached his current Chief of Staff and some commissioners to reach out to him all to no avail. We have approached some chieftains of the All Progressives Congress (APC) including former Governor Olusegun Rahman Mimiko for intervention but all to no avail. We are not begging the governor for money; we are asking to pay us our Duty Tour Allowance. We are entitled to it because we worked for it. He is not doing us any favour by paying the money.
