The Speaker, Rt. Hon. (Dr.) Mudashiru Obasa who presided over Thursday Plenary said there is no need to extend the retirement age to 65 years from 60 years considering the rate of unemployment in the State. Obasa made this statement while commenting on the recommendations of the Committee on Establishments, Training, Pensions and Public Service on a bill for a Law to amend the Lagos State Pension Reform Law Cap. L52, Laws of Lagos State, 2015 and Cap. C136, amendment Law 2018 as amended.
“There is no need for extension of retirement age to 65 years as this will lead to increase in unemployment, if people are not retired, people will not be employed.” The Speaker said emphatically. The Chairman of the Committee on Establishments, Trainings, Pensions and Public Service, Hon. Oluyinka Ogundimu highlighting the recommendations of the Committee said the amendments of the bill will include a letter of confirmation of exit which shall be issued by the employer thirty days (30 days) prior to the employee’s retirement or exit from the State Public Service.
He added that the dismissal of an employee from the Public Service of the State shall not prevent such employee from accessing the total amount due in the Retirement Savings Account, RSA. Hon. Ogundimu further stated that an employee shall open a retirement savings account for the remittance of the employee’ pension contributors with any Pension Fund Administration, PFA of his choice on assumption of duty. The Majority Leader, Hon. Sanai Agunbiade commended the Committee for a job well done, he mentioned that at the public hearing, He listened to a disable person make the contribution that the years of service of physically challenged persons should be extended to 65 years. “This recommendation by the Committee shows the government has a listening ear and it shows that the State is compassionate and cares about the people”.
Hon. Rotimi Olowo lending his voice said if someone did something bad and is dismissed we are not saying the person should go and die, they have family and they should be able to access their contributory pension. Hon. Gbolahan Yishawu stated that “I am in support of the Bill, It is a good idea and should be left like that’. Contributing, Hon. Jude Idimogu noted that dismissed employees can have access to their pension, but if an employee embezzle government fund such employee should not have access to their pensions. Hon. Nureni Akinsanya in his submission opined that teachers should also be given the privilege of attaining the age of 65 before retiring from the government Service.
