* IDs to end harassment, check fraud, identity theft

* Diaspora pensioners to enrol via live video portal

The Ondo State Government has concluded arrangements to begin the verification and production of digital identification cards for all local government and primary school pensioners across the state, starting Monday, May 12, 2025.

The initiative, being spearheaded by the Local Government Pension Transitional Department (LGPTD), is aimed at resolving identification challenges faced by pensioners and ending harassment from tax and rating officials.

Permanent Secretary of the Local Government Service Commission, Dr. (Mrs) Mercy Olayinka Femi-Idris, disclosed the development in a circular signed and made available to journalists in Akure.

According to the circular, the exercise will run for two days in each local government area, spanning the 18 council areas in the state and will end on May 29.

The circular read in part: “This is to announce to the general public, especially pensioners on the payment platform of the Local Government Pension Transitional Department in Ondo State, the commencement of production of identification cards for pensioners in the Local Government.”

It added that the production of the long-awaited digital IDs would drastically reduce undue harassment of pensioners, improve identification processes and curb rising cases of identity theft and pension fraud.

The new ID cards, according to the document, will be embedded with robust security features and will carry essential data, including the pensioner’s full name, pensioner number, date of birth, photograph, fingerprint impression and other personal details. The card will be produced in durable plastic and bear the Ondo State insignia.

As part of the process, pensioners are to present themselves for biometric capture, which includes a fresh photograph and fingerprint scan and cross-check their personal data previously captured in the LGPTD payment system.

Dr Femi-Idris, in the circular, urged all concerned pensioners to take advantage of the verification window and ensure they are present at their designated centres with the required documents to facilitate smooth collation and issuance of the ID cards.

“Pensioners are advised to utilise the window of opportunity between now and when the Committee for Data Collation will be going around to source and assemble the documents as announced,” the circular stressed.

Pensioners are expected to come along with the following documents during the exercise at their designated Local Government pay centres:

1. Approval letter from the LGPTD

2. National Identification Card issued by NIMC

3. BVN printout from their bank showing their personal data

The circular also addressed the concern of pensioners residing outside Nigeria, noting that a dedicated online portal would be launched to facilitate their participation in the verification exercise. Through the portal, such pensioners will be able to submit their information, upload supporting documents and record a five-second live video to serve as proof of life.

Verification Schedule

The verification and data collation will take place in each LGA over two days, beginning with three councils across the three senatorial districts on May 12.

In the North Senatorial District, the schedule is as follows:

Akoko South-East (Isua): May 12–13

Akoko North-West (Oke Agbe): May 14–15

Akoko North-East (Ikare): May 19–20

Akoko South-West (Oka): May 21–22

Owo (Owo): May 26–27

Ose (Ifon): May 28–29

Central Senatorial District:

Ifedore (Igbara Oke): May 12–13

Akure North (Iju/Itaogbolu): May 14–15

Ondo West (Ondo): May 19–20

Ondo East (Bolorunduro): May 21–22

Akure South (Akure): May 26–27

Idanre (Owena): May 28–29

South Senatorial District:

Ilaje (Igbokoda): May 12–13

Ese-Odo (Igbekebo): May 14–15

Irele (Ode-Irele): May 19–20

Okitipupa (Okitipupa): May 21–22

Ile Oluji/Okeigbo (Ile Oluji): May 26–27

Odigbo (Ore): May 28–29

For Boards and Commissions including the Local Government Training Office, Loans Board and Local Government Commission, the verification is scheduled for May 26–27 at the Akure South centre.

The initiative marks a major step in Ondo State’s digital inclusion policy and is expected to benefit thousands of senior citizens under the state’s LGPTD scheme.