The title compound, [Ni(C(11)H(10)N(2)O(2))(2)](C(7)H(5)O(2))(2), consists of an Ni(II) ion coordinated by two tridentate chelating (2-py)(2)C(OH)(2) ligands (py is pyrid-yl) and two benzoate anions. The Ni(II) ion is located on a twofold rotation axis, and its geometry is distorted octa-hedral. The gem-diol ligand (2-py)(2)C(OH)(2) adopts an η(1):η(1):η(1) coordination mode. There are O-H⋯O hydrogen bonds between the gem-diol ligands and benzoate anions.