Prospective retirees under the Oyo State Local Government Staff Pension Board have been charged to be careful and be mindful of touts and fraudsters who often parade as middlemen with the pretence of helping them to process their retirement benefits.
This was part of the submissions made by stakeholders at a two day sensitization/training programme, organized for the prospective retirees from primary schools and local government areas across Oke Ogun zone 2 ,held at Saki East Local Government Area, Ago amodu.
The awareness programme, first of its kind was basically designed for retirees from July to December, 2024.
The programme is also replicated across seven zones of the state, comprising Ibadan city, Ibadan less city,Oyo,Ogbomoso, Oke Ogun 1 and 2 and Ibarapa zone of the state.
In their separate remarks, Chairman Oyo State Local Government Staff Pension Board, Hon. Akeem Ademola Ige, Permanent Secretary Local Government Staff Pension Board Alhaji Lukman Muraina, the Executive Assistant to the State Governor on Establishment and Training, Alhaji Siju Lawal and the State NUP Chairman; Primary School Teaching Wing ,Mr Akinpelu Dosu explained that the outcome of the research conducted by the scheme emphasized the need to sensitize all prospective retirees on necessary procedures to follow in order to access their retirement benefits.
While highlighting various developmental programmes designed by the state government for retirees ,Hon Akeem Ige applauded the state governor, Engr Seyi Makinde for his ingenuity in making life meaningful for pensioners.
In his view, “the increase in the monthly pension of retired local government staff and primary school teachers to five hundred million naira from two hundred and fifty million naira, as well as the payment of over eighteen billion naira out of over thirty six billion naira backlog of gratuity inherited from the previous administration indicated an unwaivering support of the governor to the state senior citizens.”
The duo of Alhaji Lukman Muraina and Alhaji Siju Lawal said the state government tasked them to develop innovative programmes that will make life meaningful for retirees.
The scheme also engaged the services of medical personnel to educate them on age related ailments and the way out.
The trio, urged the participants to appreciate the state government and have confidence in the procedure of processing their retirement benefits.
Some of the resource persons at the programme were Mrs Fasilat Rahman,Dr Shola Akande (OYSHIA)the Director of personnel SUBEB, Mrs Omolara Adegbenjo, Pastor Aderibigbe,Mr Sola Akinola among others.
They admonished participants to key into the sensitization/ training programme with a view to achieving hitch free process for their retirement.
The epoch event was held under the auspices of the management of Saki East Local Government led by his Chairman Hon Prince Adedokun Emmanuel Olamilekan .