The Tai Local Government Pension Unit has been described as a model for other Local Governments in the State to emulate.
This remark was made at Sakpenwa, Headquarters of Tai Local Government by the Chairman of the Retirement Committee of the Rivers State Local Government Service Commission, Engr. Kingston Idaye Jaja while addressing staff during the Pension Sensitization Seminar.
Engr. Jaja states “if all pension units of the 23 local governments are equipped like that of Tai, the delay of pensionaires documents will be eliminated to the barest minimum”.
He noted that Local Government staff refusal to proceed on retirement was due to the fear of unknown and assured the staff that they should not entertain any fear as the Commission had resolved to pay their benefits within three months of their retirement.
The Commissioner said “the delay they get on employment letter is as important as the day they will retire from service” and added that “retirement is a blessing and not a curse as some staff erroneously think”.
Engr. Jaja advised the staff to cultivate the habit of savings and investments as they prepare to retire from the service.
Also speaking a member of the Retirement Committee and Commissioner in the Commission, Chief Mbadiwe Allen Ewoh JP advised staff not to take loan with interest as this had caused the down fall of a number of civil servants.
Chief Ewoh stressed the need for Local Government staff to emulate state civil servants who retire at their due time and are now enjoying pension for many years
The Commissioner further enjoined staff not to make any attempt to prolong their stay in the service, adding that it was better for them to retire when they are healthy.
Earlier in his speech, the Head of Local Government Administration in Tai Local Government, Mr. Ezekiel Otogwung commended the Commission for the sensitization seminar on Pension and told the Committee that the Local Government has a functional pension unit with a very senior staff as the Head and a computer to facilitate the work of the unit.
Highlight of the seminar was a question and answer session where staff expressed delight with the efforts of the Commission to remove fears in their minds on pension matters and appealed to Commission to provide them with a booklet on how to process their pension. ####
