Lagos organises send forth for 63 retirees, lists post-retirement initiatives

Lagos State Government on Tuesday organised a send-forth event for 63 retirees across the mainstream of the Civil Service.
 
In his keynote address at the event held at Adeyemi-Bero Auditorium, Alausa, Ikeja, the Head of Service, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola, said the present administration in Lagos State has put in place several initiatives and programmes to keep retirees active and remain connected to the State government.
 
The HoS, who was represented by Tutor-General/Permanent Secretary, Education District I, Mrs. Margaret Solarin, added that such programmes include the bi-monthly webinar, quarterly training and sensitisation, skills acquisition and vocational training as well as the mentoring scheme, among others. 
 
“Let me remind all our retirees that the State government has put in place several initiatives and programmes to keep our retirees active and remain connected to Lagos State Government. Such programmes include but are not limited to the bi-monthly webinar, quarterly training and mentoring scheme among others”, he stated. 
 
Therefore, he admonished all retirees to leverage the empowerment opportunities provided by the government to make them employers of labour and provide an alternative source of extra income from a business venture to keep them engaged.  
 
Muri-Okunola also reminded the retirees that the government has put in place the post-service department in the Office of the Head of Service to continually attend to all issues relating to welfare packages of the retirees and improvement in their lifestyle after retirement. 
 
Earlier in her welcome address, the representative of the Permanent Secretary, Public Service Office, Mrs. Sunkanmi Oyegbola, acknowledged the contributions of the retirees to the development of the State and their exemplary conduct while in service.
 
She, however, urged the retirees to deliberately take care of their health and wellbeing, just as she appealed to them to take advantage of the services provided by the post service department.
 
Mrs. Oyegbola also expressed gratitude to the State Governor, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, for approving the event and the Head of Service for his support in hosting the programme.
 
Responding on behalf of the retirees, Mr. Lawrence Onafowokan, appreciated the Lagos State government for organising such a wonderful ceremony for retirees as they bow out of the public service. 
 
He also gave glory to God Almighty for sparing the lives of the retirees, appealing that the State government should speedily organise and work on releasing their retirement benefits without delay. 
 
The 63 retirees were made up of 30 management staff and 33 Senior and junior officers across the mainstream of the Lagos State Civil Service.