The Lagos State’s Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions, Dr. Akintola Oke, has said that the state has budgeted N6.5bn for the payment of pensions to its retirees in the old and new pension schemes.
He said this during the opening ceremony of biometric verification programme known as “I’m Alive” for pensioners under the old Pay As You Go scheme organised by the Civil Service Pension Office in Lagos on Monday.
“It will also impress you to note that the Governor Akinwunmi Ambode-led administration has earmarked N6.5bn in this year’s budget for the settlement of pension arrears in addition to making adequate provisions for the Contributory Pension Scheme,” he said.
He said the verification was directed at enrolling the biodata and fingerprints of pensioners under the old pension scheme in order to ascertain those who are alive and entitled to payments under that scheme.
According to him, the verification has greatly contributed to effective pension administration in the state, as well as removed the issue of double representation and impersonation of pensioners on the payroll.
The Permanent Secretary, Civil Service Pension Office, Mrs. Omobolanle Ogunmola, said that when the exact number of retirees was known, it would enable the state to make adequate provisions for their welfare in the state’s budgetary allocation
She said the verification was taking place simultaneously in 15 centres across the state for easy accessibility.
Ogunmola said it had devised a means for the verification of retirees who might not be able to come to the verification centres.
“This is one of the many activities dedicated to serving the state retirees whose efforts in the past, during their prime age while working for the state had contributed in no small measure to the attainment of the state’s enviable status today,” she said.