Lagos State government on Monday pledged to pay all retirement of benefits of the workers who retired from the state public service between 2016 to date.
The Head of Service, HOS, Folasade Adesoye made the pledge at the 2018 Annual Interactive Session between the Head of Service and Retirees, held at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa, in Ikeja, Lagos, Southwest Nigeria.
She said the administration of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode remained committed to workers’ welfare and all-inclusive government.
Adesoye appealed to affected retirees to ensure proper documentation with relevant government agencies charged with the responsibility of processing the payment of their retirement, saying that the government was aware that some of those who retired from 2016 till date were yet to access their terminal benefits, assuring that his administration would clear all the backlogs.
“We are working assiduously to ensure that all their backlogs are cleared. Of paramount importance is this opportunity to assure you that your welfare is top on our agenda. This desire of this administration is to accelerate and ensure that their retirement are not delayed.
“While we look forward to a better future in terms of expedite payment of retirement benefits, it is instructive to note that the observed bureaucracy is a resultant of rules and guidelines that must be adhered to in the payment of retirement benefits,” Adesoye said.
A cross section of participants.
According to her, incomplete documentation often lead to delays in the processing and payment of retirement benefits, while appealing to retirees to make it a stringent point to duty in ensuring that their documents are up to date.
She explained that the theme of the interactive session titled: “Living a purposeful life after retirement“ with accompanying sub-theme on “Emotional Management in Retirement” were carefully chosen to address the needs of the retirees during their retirement.
Permanent Secretary, Public Service Office, Mr Samson Ajibade said that the forum had been avenue through which the retirees engaged the state government on a wide range of issues pertaining to life after retirement and to also learn about government’s activities as it related to them.
Ajibade stated that the regular meeting of the retirees was a clear indication that Ambode-led administration was committed to ensuring that retirees were not left out in the scheme of things, adding that all-inclusive government remained the fulcrum on which the administration strove.
