Lagos State Government don come outside come clear air after some retirees raise alarm over pension payment matter. Dem talk say since 2007, dem don pour pass N168.2 billion enter the hands of more than 48,000 retired workers under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).
Government drop the clarification for one Facebook post on Tuesday after some pensioners come protest say dem never happy with how pension matter dey go for the state.
According to Lagos Government, Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC) no dey sleep for pension matter at all. Dem say from 2007 reach now, billions upon billions don waka enter retirees account as government dey try settle everybody wey serve the state faithfully.
No be only that one. Government still reveal say from May 2019 till now, dem don release over N92 billion as accrued rights give more than 25,000 pensioners.
Dem explain say accrued rights na the package wey carry both gratuity and pension money wey government owe workers once dem hang boot and retire from service.
According to the state government, Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration no dey joke with retirees matter. Dem say na why dem put pension payment for front burner so pensioners go collect their money complete without long story or unnecessary delay.
To make the pension arrangement stand gidigba, Lagos Government remind people say dem increase pension contribution rate for 2020. Under the arrangement, employers dey drop 10 per cent, while workers dey add 8 per cent from their salary every month.
Government still brag about one major move wey happen for July 2024, when dem release N5 billion once take settle 1,963 retirees.
According to LASPEC, that payment scatter and wipe away every pension backlog wey remain under the CPS arrangement.
For pensioners wey dey battle sickness and health wahala, government say dem don create special fast-track arrangement so dem fit collect their gratuity quicker, while their pension money continue to enter their Retirement Savings Accounts (RSA) without interruption.
Dem still add say dem dey organise welfare support programmes twice every year to cushion the effect of hardship and high cost of living wey don choke many retirees across the country.
For retirees wey dey under the Defined Benefits Scheme (DBS), Lagos Government talk say dem extend the N25,000 wage award wey active workers collect to more than 10,000 pensioners between December 2023 and February 2024.
As if that one no do, dem still increase pension payments by 20 per cent and 28 per cent for March 2025.
Government further reveal say for May 2026, Lagos State carry shoulder join Federal Government by matching the N32,000 pension wage award for DBS pensioners.
According to dem, all these moves don make pension wage bill jump pass 100 per cent, showing say plenty extra money don enter pensioners pocket.
Meanwhile, LASPEC talk say from the beginning of 2026 till now, dem don already pay pass N4 billion give 1,862 retirees, while another N1 billion dey ready to land for about 700 retirees within one week.
At the end, Lagos Government maintain say all these payments and welfare packages show say Sanwo-Olu government no dey use retirees play, as dem remain committed to making sure former civil servants chop the pension and gratuity wey belong to them without stress, delay or excuse.
