The Lagos State Government expressed its commitment to pay pensions to pensioners through the various Pension Fund Administrators.
State Commissioner for Establishment, Training and Pensions, Mrs. Ajibola Ponnle, who hinted in a media briefing on a recent publication that the Lagos State government failed to make payments in October, November, and December 2022, said the news was baseless. and misleading.
“Contrary to this report, the Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC) on October 14, 2022 paid accrual rights of N1.062 billion to 288 pensioners, and N2.54 billion to 754 pensioners in December 2022.
“In 2022, the government, through LASPEC, the agency responsible for the coordination and administration of all pension affairs in the country, paid accrual rights of N11.4 billion to 3,480 pensioners, and N48.3 billion to 13,142 pensioners since the administration,” he said.
Ponnle, who said that the administration led by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu has never shirked its responsibility towards pensioners, added: “The status of the implementation of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) in the states, the quarterly assessment report produced by the National Pension. The state certified commission as the most subject to the plan.
“Under the administration of Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu, the state government increased the employer’s share from 7.5 percent to 10 percent every month. From January 2022 to date, the state has remitted N13.7 billion to employees, N3.18 billion to councils and N13.319 billion for employees of the Universal Basic Education Board.
“In addition, the state government maintains a life assurance policy coverage of 300 percent of the annual emoluments for all employees. In line with the ideals of the contributory pension scheme, the state government has worked hard to ensure consistent payment of pension obligations.
“We have some countries even come to learn how to manage our pensions. We are in the best practice of pension administration in terms of public service. So, if we pay at the rate of between N1 billion and N1.5 billion per month, the N9 billion pension backlog that outstanding will be completely removed.