Yemisi Izuora
The Lagos State government has begun a comprehensive verification exercise and harmonization of the data of non -oracle employees who retired across its parastatals, agencies, and government-owned companies.
The Permanent Secretary in the Parastatals Monitoring Office (PMO), Dr Oluwagbemiga Aina, described the initiative as a critical milestone in the state’s ongoing public service reforms. He noted that the exercise was designed not only to update records but also to reinforce transparency and efficiency in the management of post-service entitlements.
He explained that the verification process would help reconcile existing records, eliminate discrepancies, and establish a credible and reliable database of retirees of parastatals and agencies of government, thereby enhancing planning and service delivery across the affected institutions.
‘’This exercise is not merely administrative; it is a deliberate effort to ensure that our records are accurate, our processes are credible, and that every directly recruited retiree receives their rightful entitlements in a timely and seamless manner,” he said
The Permanent Secretary acknowledged the invaluable contributions of retirees to the growth and development of Lagos State’s parastatals and agencies, stressing that the government remained committed to upholding their dignity through efficient and transparent benefit administration.
‘’Our retirees have devoted years of dedicated service to the system. It is therefore our responsibility to ensure that their records are properly documented and that their post-service benefits are managed with integrity and precision,” he added.
Aina further commended the collaboration of various parastatals and agencies involved in the exercise, noting that their collective efforts underscored a shared commitment to building a more responsive and accountable public service.
Addressing the retirees, the Permanent Secretary called for their full cooperation, assuring them that adequate measures had been put in place to ensure a smooth and stress-free verification process.
“This is just the beginning. The outcomes of this exercise will guide further reforms aimed at improving the welfare of our retirees and strengthening institutional processes across board,” he said.
Also giving the insight into the verification exercise, the Head, Research & Development Department of the Agency, Mrs Funmi Owolabi, said the exercise would go a long way to sanitize all agencies as to having the directly recruited staff retirees verified and start enjoying as their contemporaries recruited by government.