– ASSURES OF PROMPT PAYMENT OF RETIREMENT BENEFITS.
The Lagos State Head of Service, Mr Hakeem Muri-Okunola has urged all the public servants in the State to ensure they follow due process and keep comprehensive records of their documents while in service to avoid delay in the processing and payment of their retirement benefits.
This statement was made at the Sensitization Webinar on the Newly Revised Lagos State Public Service Handbook produced by the Post Service Directorate of the Public Service Department of the Office of the Head of Service held at the Conference Room Alausa-Ikeja
Muri-Okunola, added that retiring officers should plan ahead of what can sustain them as a form of additional income generation to embark upon after active service.
Speaking on behalf of the Head of Service at the event, the Permanent Secretary, Public Service Office, Mr Samson Ajibade stated that extant rules and regulations in the Lagos State Public Service provide that certain processes and procedures must be followed for retirement and the processing of the retirement benefits.
He maintained that any officer retiring is required to give six months’ notice whilst the officer would benefit from the one-month pre-retirement workshop.
Ajibade, affirmed that the Lagos State Public Service Retirement Handbook is comprehensive, covering all the areas of retirement procedures, processing of retirement benefits and other relevant aspects of post retirement life such as healthy living in retirement and the administration of retirees estate in the event of death.
” The Handbook provides information for Intending retirees on how to utilize their retirement benefits as well as live a blissful post service life”. He said.
Also speaking at the event, the representative from the Lagos State Civil Service Commission, the Director Admin and Human Resource (Discipline and Exit), Mrs Olaopin Grace urged all the public servants to ensure that everyone keep their records and ensures it is updated in order to facilitate the prompt processing of their retirement benefits.
Speaking on behalf of the Lagos State Pension Commission, the Director, Special Projects, Mr Yusuf Olujobi, noted that all employees of Lagos State are expected to sign up and open retirement savings accounts (RSA) with any of the 17 approved Pension Fund Administration (PFAs).
He thereby charged everyone to take the record process more important as it will fast track their retirement benefits as they exit the service.
The Head of Unit, Central Records Unit, Office of Establishments, and Training, Mr Olakunle Aladejana, implored all the Lagos State civil servants to ensure that they have Establishment number, just as this will aid their documentation and avail them relevant and immediate information from the State Government while leaving the service.
Amongst MDAS that were part of the unfolding and Launch of the Revised Public Service Handbook include Directors from Public Service Office, Ministry of Establishment, Training and Pensions, Ministry of Justice, Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC) and Ministry of Wealth Creation amongst others.
