The Rivers State Commissioner for Local Government Affairs Mr. Samuel Eyiba has stressed the need for retiring staff of the third tier government to take their exit from the service as a blessing.
Mr. Eyiba gave this remark in Port Harcourt today, while declaring open a pre-retirement workshop for staff of the unified Local Government Service organized by the state Local Government Service Commission.
He commended the commission for taken a bold step to educate staff about to retire by sponsoring the workshop and described the gesture as the right decision to equip the staff for life after the service.
The Commissioner expressed the hope that the retirees to be would take advantage of the workshop to plan adequately for their retirement to enable them live a healthy and comfortable life in retirement.
In his address the Chairman of the commission, Chief Azubuike Nmerukini stated that the workshop was among the series of training programmes mapped out by the commission to improve staff welfare.
Chief Azubuike said the two most important dates for any staff in the service are the dates of entering and date of retiring from the service.
The Chairman states “They should face the reality of the day and know that retirement is a necessity that every work must face one day”.
He said they should be grateful to God because as the case with some of their colleagues that were rejected by the system or force to retire or resign due to one reason or the other as they completed their service years or attain age of retirement.
And in his remark the State president of the Nigeria Union of Local Government Employees, Sir, Franklin Ajinwo said that retirement was not the end of the world for retirees and said “When one door closes and another one opens”.
Barrister Ajinwo expressed appreciation to the Commission for packaging the workshop which he said would give a new lease of life to those preparing for retirement for life outside the service and become useful to the society.
Earlier in his welcome address the Chairman of the sub-committee on retirement in the commission, Engineer Kingston ldatonye Jaja said the workshop was the first batch for staff due retirement between January and June 2013 in the 23 Local Governments in the state.
Engineer Jaja said that the workshop was significant as it was the first of its kind by the present commission since its inception and was aimed at removing fears among those retiring from the service.
He said “retirement from public service is a good thing. And it is indeed something one should be proud of as a life time achievement after meritorious years of service to ones father land”. ###
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