In October, Lagos state paid N1.5bn to 333 retirees

The Lagos State Pension Commission said it paid another set of 333 retirees the sum of N1.5bn in October.

According to a statement obtained on Sunday, LASPEC said the beneficiaries were from the mainstream civil service, local governments, state Universal Basic Education Board, teachers’ establishment and pensions office as well as other parastatals of the state government.

The Director-General, LASPEC, Mrs. Folashade Onanuga, said that since monthly payment of accrued pension rights started in August, 2015, the administration had been able to pay the cumulative sum of N20.98bn to a total number of 4,799 retirees under the Contributory Pension Scheme in the last 15 months.

She spoke at the 32nd retirement benefit bond presentation ceremony, which took place at LASPEC office in Lagos, adding that the payment of  pensions was structured in such a way that one did not need to know anyone before one could be paid.

She also advised the retirees to put their money in ventures they could manage, and not one that would put their health in jeopardy.

Onanuga said that apart from the commitment to paying the entitlements of the retirees, the Lagos State Government was interested in the well-being of the retirees and would soon have a one-day retirees’ interaction with the governor.

“This forum, which will be the first of its kind in Lagos State as well as in Nigeria at large is tagged- ‘Retirees day-out with his Excellency’, and the first outing will take place early in the New Year,” it stated.