The title compound, [Ni(C11H10N2O 2)2](C7H5O2) 2, consists of an NiII ion coordinated by two tridentate chelating (2-py)2C(OH)2 ligands (py is pyridyl) and two benzoate anions. The NiII ion is located on a twofold rotation axis, and its geometry is distorted octa-hedral. The gem-diol ligand (2-py) 2C(OH)2 adopts an η1:η1: η1 coordination mode. There are O - H⋯O hydrogen bonds between the gem-diol ligands and benzoate anions.