Prospective retirees of primary school teachers and local government staff that are due for retirement from July to December 2024 have been admonished to make proper plans for their retirement lives.
The admonition was given by the Chairman, Local Government Staff Pension Board Hon Akeem Ademola Ige while delivering his keynote address at the 2-Day Sensitization Training Programme for Prospective Retirees in Oke Ogun zones 1 & 2 held at Iseyin Town Hall, Iseyin and Saki East LG, Ago Amodu respectively. He noted that the training programme which is decentralized in all the seven geo-political zones in Oyo State with the theme “Towards Achieving Hitch-Free Processing of Retirement Benefits”
He emphasized that the training programme is in line with the Executive Governor of Oyo State, His Excellency Engr Oluseyi Abiodun Makinde’s commitment to pensioners welfare. He stated that this is in addition to regular, prompt payment of pension in the 25th of every month, payment of over eighteen billion naira out of over thirty six billion naira inherited backlog of gratuity from previous administrations.
He stated further that the Governor increased monthly amount from two hundred and fifty million to Five hundred million, reinstatement and payment of accrued arrears of all pensioners that missed various screening verification exercises back into monthly payroll among others and now in his magnanimity approved training programme for prospective retirees.
Hon Ige therefore enjoined prospective retirees to prepare and plan adequately for life after retirement.
Also, the Permanent Secretary, Local Government Staff Pension Board Alhaji Lukman Akinola Muraina advised them to adhere strictly to the rules, regulations, laws guiding the procedure of processing their retirement benefits.
Similarly , the Chairman, House Committee on Establishment and Pension , Hon Lukman Jimoh Ishola representing Oorelope constituency and the Executive Chairman , Saki East LG Hon Prince Adedokun Emmanuel Oladokun gave kudos to the Governor for various pensioners welfare packages since assumption of office in May 2019.
In their insightful lectures, the highly experienced resource persons which include Former Commissioner , Ministry of Establishment and Training who is now the Special Adviser to the Governor on Establishment and Training Alhaji Siju Lawal, the retired Auditor General for Local Government Mr. Sola Akinola Acing Auditor General for Local Government Mrs Fasilat, Rahman, OYSHIA Executive Secretary Dr Sola Akande, Permanent Secretary, Min of Establishment and Training Mr Mahmud Olujide Okesde.
Others include Director of Personal, SUBEB , Mrs Adegbenjo Omolara Principal Accountant , LGSPB, Pastor Ayodele Aderibigbe and Deputy Director Office of Auditor General for Local Government , Mr Tunji Akinsanya all corroborated pension Board chairman by giving the prospective retirees procedure for processing of their retirement benefits, tips, strategies to a peaceful and healthy retirement life.
In their various goodwill messages, Executives of Nigeria Union of Pensioners (NUP) Association of Primary School Head Teachers of Nigeria (AOPSHON), Nigeria Union Teachers (NUT) , Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees (NULGE) all commended the state governor and Pension Board for organizing the sensitization training programme.
All the participants appreciated the Governor and the management of the Pension Board for the training programme.