How Sanwo-Olu Is Giving More Lifeline To Lagos Pensioners, By Yusuf Abubakar

By ABUBAKAR YUSUF.

It takes alot of passion for humanity for state governments to think about pensioners and retirees from public service, when it is grappling with payment of workers in the service of the states that included Salaries and other allowances in Nigeria.

This ranges from leave bonus, yearly incremental steps and other benefits accrued to civil servants in the service of the 36 states of the country, including federal capital territory.

But, for Lagos State, it had proved to be at the forefront of workers welfare, having paid the new minimum wage long ago when many state government are still negotiating, on how to go about offsetting minimum wage of it's workers.

These also included the introduction of many incentives for workers  in the health sector, Education, and other specialised areas by the Babajide Sanwo-Olu's administration.

The positive development had brought alot of stability to the civil service of Lagos State, as workers get their entitlements as at when due, including allowances.

Lagos State government had created many avenues to workers in the state service to mitigate the effect of COVID, this also led to the provision of high capacity buses know as BRT with designated roads to assist workers to and from their various offices across the state, with ease and convenience.

Alot of incentives are abound for Lagos State workers in the public service that encouraged hardwork, dilligence, dedication to duty and commitement towards job execution and deliverance.

Sanwo-Olu did not stop at giving neccessary attention to those in the services of Lagos State alone, more attention was giving to pensioners who had spent between 30-35 years in giving their best to the state.

The release of a quantum amount of N35B for payment to Lagos State workers who had retired from active service readily came to mind.

The action of Lagos State government coincided with the preparation for the end of the year festivities of Christmas in 2021 and New Year in 2022, that was greeted with alot of commendations.

The decision of Lagos State in prioritising payment to it's pensioners with a whopping amount of N35B had detonated the general notion that retired civil servants now pensioners are 'dead woods' with no value as postulated by some state government.

The timely intervention of lagos state government was coming at a time when more than 90% of governor's of states in Nigeria had abandoned the welfare of their pensioners over non payment of pension to pensioners, while others to hat are paying split it across board for many months and years.

Lagos State decided to back down on the template of splitted payments, stating that the pensioners had served the state with all their strength, and now that the strength is no longer there, it is left for government to take charge of their welfare through prompt and whole payments as a sign of reciprocity.

Sanwo-Olu did not only pay Lagos pensioners their entitlements, but harmonised pensions as directed by the federal government in line with the new realities.

The decision taken by Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu was unique towards the plight of of pensioners who had no regard from most state governments in Nigeria, including the federal government.

Not untill recently, payment of pension to retired federal workers was laced with protests, agitations and plea to the federal and some state authorities.

Some state pensioners could not access their statutory pension by retirees in the life of an administration, the bad trend Lagos State government had thrown to the dustbin of of history.

As Nigerian workers deserved their living wages while in active service, so also the retirees needed more attention having served diligently in their years of service.

The prestige, respect and esteem giving to Lagos pensioners was the best in recent time, a trend that needed to be replicated across the country.

Having satisfied both serving and retirees, Babajide Sanwo-Olu had created an avenue for self sustenance, reliance and boom in both social and economic security of Lagos State.

Written By Abubakar Yusuf From Abuja.

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