266 Pensioners could not contain their joy yesterday as they received the total sum of N1,852,067,715.59 in form of retirement bond certificates from the governor of Osun state, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.
The 266 beneficiaries are the third batch of retirees under the contributory pension scheme in the State of Osun to received their Retirement Bond Certificate. Though several news outlets reported contradictory figures on the total sum that was distributed at the event, but official figures as confirmed by this newspaper reads N1.85bn.
The Governor of the state, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola made the presentation at the Multi-Purpose Hall of the Local Government Service Commission.
Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola made it known that 266 retirees, both in the State and Local Governments Service benefited from the scheme. This he said, includes 139 primary school teachers, 55 local government and 72 state retirees.
He assured the retirees that, presentation of bond certificates would be a continuous exercise sequel to the availability of funds, noting that, no retirees will be short changed.
Speaking at the programme, the Head of Service, Mr Sunday Owoeye explained that, as part of government’s effort to make life comfortable for retirees, the state government has approved the establishment of a data base for the use of the bureau which will bring about improvement in the prompt remittances of monthly contribution and efficient transfers of accrued benefit to Retirement Savings Account (RSA) of workers.
Mr. Owoeye stated that, Osun is ranked among the states that is diligently implementing the scheme, noting that, this is as a result of the doggedness of the State Governor, Ogbeni Rauf Aregbesola.
He said the scheme is implemented to surmount the challenges of old defined benefit scheme. He however, advised them to spend the money judiciously.
In his address of welcome, the Permanent Secretary, Local Government Staff Pension Bureau, Mr. Kayode Afolabi said that, the contributory pension scheme will assist civil servants to save towards their retirement.
Mr Afolabi explained that, the scheme also ensures that persons who leave or retire from public service will receive their benefits as and when due because there is a system of rules and regulations for the administration and payment of retirement benefits to beneficiaries.
He maintained that, since the commencement of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) in the state in 2010, positive development had been recorded.
According to him, in line with the global best practices and PENCOM’s recommendation, a pre-retirement workshop was earlier organized for the beneficiaries of the scheme to assist them prepare for a new life as pensioners.
Responding on behalf of other beneficiaries, Mrs. Moji Adeleke appreciated the state Government for the kind gesture and prayed that God will improve the state of the economy in Osun and Nigeria.
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