Lagos Empowers 400 Retiring Staff With Entrepreneurial Skills

Lagos State Government has again demonstrated its commitment towards the welfare of its staff with the training and empowerment of 400 retiring staff from the Unified Local Government Service Commission on enterpreneural skills in order to prepare them for financial independence and rewarding life in retirement

Speaking at the opening session of the Five-Day Pre-Retirement Workshop which commenced on Monday at the Digital Village, Alausa, the Chairman, Local Government Service Commission, Mr. Babatunde Rotinwa lauded the State Governor for his magnanimous style of leadership, especially his concern for the state retirees, stressing that the workshop was one of the avenues conceptualised by the present administration to compensate members of staff for their contributions to the development of the state.

According to him, “This in an innovative way to reward you as you move forward to this phase of life after all the sacrifies you have made towards the development of the grassroots, and for not being found guilty of inefficiency while in the system”.
While encouraging those still in active service to imbibe the spirit of hardwork, Rotinwa disclosed that the introduction of the pre-retirement workshop was an addition to the usual annual Long Service Award, because government places premium on a good life after retirement for its entire staff.

He implored the retiring officials to believe in themselves and look into the future with high hope, saying “when a door closes, another one opens”, adding that retirement should be considered as a befitting way to end a distinguished and illustrious career in the civil service.

Earlier, the Permanent Secretary, Local Government, Establishments Training and Pensions Office, Mr. Oluwatoyin Onisarotu said the gesture by the state government underscore the fact that the present administration does not undermine the contribution of its staff regardless of their Grade Levels.

“The Governor’s approval for this workshop is in appreciation of your loyalty, dedication and ethics of patriotism as demonstrated in your individual meritorious career in the service.”

He said that as part of the workshop session, participants would also be taught how to take careof themselves in retirement, processes and procedures for accessing retirement benefits under the Contributory Pension Scheme among others.

Onisarotu however counseled those who have been in service longer and are looking at retirement with regret to always remember that “no matter how long, twenty years shall one day become tomorrow”, adding that every staff should start preparing for retirement right from the point of entry into the service.

He enjoined them to apply the knowledge acquired at the training to further uplift their personal and family lives, as well as the socio-economic and political development of the country.

On her part, the Director-General of Lagos State Pensions Commission, LASPEC, Mrs. Folasade Onanuga, assured the participants that the State Government is better positioned towards making retirement benefits seamlessly accessible to retirees than it used to be.

She therefore called on the participants to assist in making the process of accessing their benefits less cumbersome by doing the necessary documentation at least six months before their exit from the service which is in accordance to the establishing law.