A 6-day mobilization programme on the Contributory Pension Scheme organized for workers in Ekiti State Public Service has begun in Ado-Ekiti with Governor Kayode Fayemi restating the commitment of his administration to tackling the problem of post-retirement poverty among workers in the state.
Speaking while declaring the forum open, Dr. Fayemi who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government, Dr. Ganiyu Owolabi said government was fully committed to fulfilling its obligations to retired public servants.
The Governor said that he does not view the task of ensuring a good life for retired government workers in Ekiti State as a humanitarian service, stressing that it is solemn pact that he has entered into with all workers.
He assured that government is committed to protecting the interest of workers and pensioners in the state, saying that credible Pension Fund Administrators who are licensed by the National Pension Commission and went through rigorous selection processes to assess their competence and integrity were selected to handle the pension fund for workers in the state.
The Governor stated that the Contributory Pension Scheme is a panacea to the shortcomings of the old pension scheme, noting that under the new scheme, payment of pensioners commenced immediately on retirement.
According to him, the new scheme is also fraud free as no pension administrator has direct access to the funds.
Fayemi called on workers to continue to serve the interest of the state saying that government will reward hardworking workers and urged them to view government business beyond selfish interest.
Earlier, the Chairman of PENCON, Chief Oluwole Ojo stated that the imperfections of the old Pension Administration called for the implementation of the new pension policy saying, that participants are expected to pass the information to others and would be assessed at the end of the programme.
Last modified: March 9, 2013
