Ambode, Ogundipe want public to show compassion for retirees

The Lagos State governor, Akinwunmi Ambode, and Vice Chancellor, University of Lagos (UNILAG), Prof. Oluwatoyin Ogundipe, yesterday charged members of the public to show extra compassion to retirees because of their numerous contributions to societal development. The due spoke at a two-day training for top civil servants in Ikeja, Lagos.

According to Ambode, the government appreciated that society should show extra compassion to retirees because they were the mothers and fathers of the society, adding that they were the first teachers, as they “taught us how to love, how to care, how to give, how to forgive, how to accept, and most of all they are our backbone of support.”

Ambode, who was represented by the Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions, Dr. Benson Oke, said without their endless sacrifice during their early years, “we would not be capable of what we are today. We need to care for our retirees and the older citizens because they deserve to be cared for.”

Speaking at the event, Ogundipe called for support for retirees, saying the training for retirees and those to be retired put up by the state government was important and timely. 

He maintained that for any personnel not to prepare for life after retirement, connoted that such person would not have anything to fall upon, and further expressed optimism with the way government was planning for its workforce not to suffer after retirement, a feat considered okay and in order.

According to the governor, retirees and older citizens had either acquired, created or had been brought up with a set of morals, values and/or principles in their life, adding that “our elders would want the best for us, and they would be more than willing to tell us what set of rules and guidelines have made them successful and hopefully, peaceful.”