By LOVETH AZODO, Lagos
… Vows To Clear Backlog Before May, 2023
Lagos State Government has paid the sum of N1,043,450,492.40 (One Billion, Forty-Three Million, Four Hundred and Fifty Thousand, Four Hundred and Ninety-Two Naira, Forty Kobo) to 222 Lagos State Public Service retirees.
The State Government cleared its pension contributions of 2018 – 2020 retirees under the contributory pension scheme.
The Director-General of Lagos State Pension State Commission (LASPEC), Mr Babalola Obilana, who made the disclosure Today at the 91st Batch Retirement Bond Certificate presentation Ceremony assured that the retirees contributions has been paid into their RSA.
According to him, Despite the numerous local and global challenges, the State Government has made continuous monthly payments a priority to ensure retirees access their retirement benefits as soon as possible.
He said “LASPEC also constantly reviews its business processes to ensure first class service delivery to our dear retirees and accomplish Mr. Governor’s goal of the immediate payment of pension entitlements upon retirement from the Public Service.”
However, Obilana confirmed that prior to the payment there were over 1000 retirees that have not received their contributions.
He assured that the backlog will be cleared before the end of the first tenure of Governor Sanwo-Olu which should end by May 2022.
“It is slightly over a thousand. We have paid 222 people so before the end of the Governor’s first tenure we would have finish paying all,” he assured.
“If we are able to clear the backlog people that are still in active service will see that by the time they finish they will get their benefit and they will put in more work and the government will make more money to pay them.”
On the delay he explained that the commission usually organize a pre retirement seminar, where they educate people on steps to take to ensure they get their benefit in due time.
“Before they retire so that when they retire and do what they ought to do, there will not be delay in their approval of their benefit, what we find out is that people dont do what they are supposed to do at the right time,” he said.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs Jane Adakwu ndukuba told our correspondent that the state government is trying as she did not believe she would be collecting her certificate today.
“I have just collected my certificate and I feel very happy, those who have not collected, I will ask them to exercise patience, Lagos state is doing very well, and they told us that soon there will be no backlog again. I will tell them to put in their best hard work doesn’t kill,” she said.
A blind beneficiary who retired January 2021 expressed her happiness as she was not supposed to be part of this batch but was considered because of her disability.
She said “Lagos state teaching service commission, lagos state government has tried they have promised they are going to clear the backlog, it is fantastic, I retire last year, because of my disability I was considered that means that Lagos state government takes care of everybody even people living with disability, I think that should be credited to them.”
News5 days ago