Lagos verifies non-pensionable staff in LGs, LCDAs

The Lagos State Ministry of Establishments, Training and Pensions, the office of the Head of Service and the Auditor-General on the directives of Governor Akinwunmi Ambode, have conducted a verification exercise on non-pensionable staff in the 20 local government councils and 37 local council development areas (LSDAs).

Commissioner in charge of the ministry, Akintola Benson made this known while speaking with journalists in Lagos, saying that Ambode approved the committee’s recommendations for implementation.

He also said the department in conjunction with the Office of Transformation, Creativity and Innovation embarked on workforce planning and streamlining of contract appointments at the Lagos Water Corporation.

“In line with extant provisions, approvals for payment of severance allowances to political office holders who had completed their tenure in office were obtained from the governor,” he added.

He noted that the department compiled and submitted the changes in the state’s establishment matters for the past 50 years.

Benson said in line with Ambode’s directive for the replacement of written examinations towards promotions and structured training, the office supervised the compliance of the directive across the service.

“Among other activities of the establishments, the 2017 bilateral personnel budget discussion commenced in May 2016 and was concluded in August.

“The approved year 2016 personnel budget signed by the Governor are personnel cost which include basic salary and allowance of N 72.55 billion, personnel cost (consolidated) at N1.9 billion and other personnel cost of N1 million,” he stated.

He pointed out that the Industrial department of the ministry also engaged in regular working visitations to all industrial unions in the state public service including all tertiary institutions.

“The objective is to foster harmonious relationship between the management of Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) and unions in the state public service while the initiative is also to sniff out areas of potential conflicts and nip such conflicts in the bud before they escalate to crisis levels,” he added.

Speaking on the Civil Service Pensions Office (CSPO), he said the department has been processing terminal benefits of staff that exited the system through statutory or voluntary retirement like those who disengaged on the “Pay As You Go” scheme.

“In the last one year, the CSPO has achieved a lot. Pensioners’ population in the mainstream stands at 8,512 as at April 2017 while N1. 84 billion was paid as pensions from May 31, 2016 to April 30, 2017.

“The office forwarded 185 pensioners with federal shares complaints ranging from short payment of gratuity and arrears to stoppage of monthly pensions to the Director-General, Pensions Transition Arrangement Department (PTAD) office, Abuja.

It also facilitated the reinstated payment of additional 15 pensioners who have just attained the Expected Date of Pension (EDOP) and adjustments in pensions,” he stated.