By Our Correspondent
National News – The Ogun State Government has begun paying additional pension benefits to more than 200 retirees who served in local governments and the State Universal Basic Education Board under the Contributory Pension Scheme.
The payments, which were officially presented in Abeokuta on Friday, form part of an initiative by Governor Dapo Abiodun aimed at improving the welfare and financial stability of pensioners across the state.
Officials said the programme targets retired workers whose pension benefits fall under the contributory scheme and is designed to address disparities between payments under the contributory pension structure and the older defined benefits system.
During the presentation of cheques, the Permanent Secretary of the Bureau of Local Government Pensions, Olufisan Osiyale, explained that the intervention would provide eligible retirees with a one-off payment immediately after leaving service.
According to Osiyale, the additional pension benefit scheme will run for a period of 10 years and is structured to help retirees maintain a stable income after retirement.
Beneficiaries are expected to receive payments ranging from 116 percent to 280 percent of their annual total emoluments, depending on their years of service and eligibility.
He noted that the initiative represents a significant step in strengthening the contributory pension scheme in Nigeria, adding that it will reduce financial pressure on retirees and improve confidence in the pension system.
Permanent Secretaries in the Ministry of Local Government and Chieftaincy Affairs and the Local Government Service Commission, Rotimiolu Akinlesi and Olanike Ogunbona, also praised the programme.
They said the government’s move demonstrates commitment to the welfare of former public servants who dedicated years of service to the state.
Labour representatives equally welcomed the development.
The Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees described the payment as a positive response to concerns raised by retirees over pension administration.
However, the union urged the government to maintain consistent remittances to Pension Fund Administrators to sustain the scheme in the long term.
Some beneficiaries, including Ajayi Amos and Dorcas Agboola, expressed gratitude to the Ogun State Government, saying the payments reaffirm their confidence in the pension system and show that their years of public service have been recognised.
