Matthew Otoijagha
Lagos State Governor, Akinwunmi Ambode has said that the state is helping retirees and pensioners to manage their transition from active service to retirement.
Ambode, represented by Commissioner, Lagos State Ministry of Establishments, Training and Pensions, Dr. Akintola Benson spoke at the opening session of the workshop tagged: How to Prepare Officers of the Lagos State Civil Service for Retirement, organised by the Civil Service Pensions Office (CSPO) of the ministry.
He said that the CSPO is saddled with the responsibility of ensuring that pensioners of the state on the ‘pay as you go’ scheme are paid their entitlements as and when due, adding that the CSPO has been responsible for the welfare of pensioners and retirees in the state.
He disclosed that over the years, the CSPO has put in place various measures to ease the burden of retirees and ensure their comfort.
He stated that while many employers of labour and indeed, many state governments do not see the need to prepare their employees for a new life, his administration has resolved that everyone who has worked diligently for the state has to be recognized, paid his or her dues and assisted to prepare for future challenges.
He noted that the state is training its workers to help recently retired pensioners to manage change.
According to him, “This training is designed to prepare officers of the CSPO to counsel and advice retirees and pensioners on how to manage the transition from active service to retirement.
‘‘In this address, I wish to point out the general modalities for fulfilling this task. As prospective retirees facing a new future, officers of the CSPO assert and allay their fears about the future. They should encourage them to eschew fear and anxiety and instead embrace faith and hope as they go into a new stage in their lives.
“While change may bring daunting challenges, you really have nothing to be anxious about. In the first place, you have the advantage of having served an organization that has made adequate arrangements for your future in retirement.
‘‘As at the middle of 2017, the Lagos State Government had paid accrued pension rights of approximately N28 billion into the Retirement Savings Account of 6,509 retirees in the preceding 22 months alone. Furthermore, the Lagos State Government has continued to remit money into officers’ Retirement Savings Accounts.
The commissioner further explained that, the government has paid the approximate sum of N62 billion into the Retirement Savings Accounts (RSA) of about 13,000 retirees since the commencement of the payment of entitlements in the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) dispensation.