The Lagos State Government has trained about 400 officers in the Unified Local Government Service on retirement planning as part of efforts to equip public servants with the knowledge and skills needed for a smooth transition from active service to retirement.
The training, held at the Adeyemi Bero Auditorium, Alausa, Ikeja, was organised through the Office of Local Government Establishments and Training during the 2026 Pre-Retirement Sensitisation Workshop themed, “Retirement Ready: Ensuring a Seamless Transition from Service to Pension.”
Speaking at the workshop, the Permanent Secretary, Office of Local Government Establishments and Training, Ms. Toyin Ogunlana, said the initiative underscores the Lagos State Government’s commitment to the welfare of its workforce by preparing officers approaching retirement for life after public service.
She described retirement as a significant milestone that should be seen not as the end of a career but as the beginning of another important phase that requires careful planning and informed decision-making.
According to Ogunlana, many retiring officers face uncertainty because of inadequate knowledge of pension administration, financial planning, healthcare management, emotional adjustment and opportunities for productive engagement after retirement.
She noted that these challenges are often compounded by the tendency of many public servants to postpone retirement planning until the final years of service.
“The workshop reflects the Lagos State Government’s unwavering commitment to placing people at the centre of governance through policies and programmes that promote dignity, security and an improved quality of life for public servants before and after retirement,” she said.
Ogunlana explained that the programme was designed to provide participants with practical knowledge on retirement planning, pension processes, financial management, healthcare planning and sustainable post-retirement opportunities.
She expressed confidence that the workshop would enable participants to make informed decisions that would guarantee financial security, emotional stability and a fulfilling life after retirement.
In his goodwill message, the Director-General of the Lagos State Pension Commission, LASPEC, Mr. Babalola Obilana, represented by the Head of Technical Department, Mrs. Morenike Makinde, commended the organisers for sustaining the annual sensitisation programme.
He advised participants to familiarise themselves with the Contributory Pension Scheme, maintain accurate retirement records and engage regularly with their Pension Fund Administrators, PFAs to avoid delays in accessing their retirement benefits.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Local Government Service Commission, Mrs. Bukonla Durodola, urged participants to view retirement as the beginning of another productive phase of life rather than the end of active living.
She encouraged them to embrace proper planning, continuous learning and prudent financial management, noting that the quality of retirement largely depends on decisions taken while still in service.
Similarly, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Local Government, Chieftaincy Affairs and Rural Development, Mrs. Kikelomo Bolarinwa, described the workshop as a demonstration of the state’s commitment to the welfare of public servants.
She urged participants to maximise the opportunity by engaging resource persons, asking questions and taking advantage of the retirement documentation clinic incorporated into the programme.
The workshop featured expert presentations on retirement documentation, pension administration and common causes of delays in pension and gratuity payments, while representatives of Pension Fund Administrators and other pension professionals participated in an interactive panel session to provide guidance on retirement planning and benefits administration.