The Federal Government has restated its commitment to improving the wellbeing of its retirees and creating a conducive atmosphere to live decent lives after retirement.
Dasuki Arabi, the Director General of the Bureau of Public Service Reform (BPSR), said this on Friday, September 27, 2024, in Gombe, during the 2024 Pre-Retirement Training Programme for retired/retiring officers of selected Federal Parastatals for North East Zone.
Mr Arabi said that the FG remains committed to improving the wellbeing of retirees through training and other reforms.
He said that the bureau was arranging a national conference, which hopefully, would by chaired by President Bola Tinubu, to look into issues around pension, toward reforming it to improve the lives of retirees.
The DG said that the pre-retirement training programme for retiring officers of federal parastatals was one of the cardinal programmes of the bureau.
He said that the essence of the training was to prepare retiring officers to face the future and also ensure that the quality of their lives did not depreciate.
According to him, equipping them with the right knowledge and experience toward the attainment of sustainable life in retirement is in line with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Tinubu, towards improving the lives of retirees.
“The most important exercise that an employee can embark upon is to prepare for retirement.
“Retirement, which marks another phase in the life of people, is an exercise that is worth planning for.
“Many people have had very bad experiences in their retirement life, possibly because of their failure to adequately plan for it.
“Government in its wisdom thought it wise to impact on them some basic knowledge on how to go about their normal life in retirement, and how they will properly utilise their retirement benefits.
“Due to the immense benefits derived from the first edition, the training has been institutionalised and is being conducted by the bureau annually on retirees from federal parastatals,” he said.
Mr Arabi said that in the course of the training, participants were given practical steps to guide them in whatever business venture they might embark upon thereafter.
He appealed to President Tinubu to approve funds for early commencement of training for retiring civil servants from three years before their retirement.
The DG said that the appeal was a result of the impacts assessment survey conducted by BPSR.
He said that the survey revealed the death of some civil servants in less than one year after retirement.
Mr Arabi said that it was based on that, that the bureau was pushing for the programme to commence early training for civil servants, from three years before their exit.
“This will help ensure that retirees are better prepared for the future,” he said.
The DG urged participants to put all they had learnt into practice to ensure that they surmount every obstacle that might come their way, while contributing to the growth and development of the nation.
He commended President Tinubu and George Akume, the Secretary, to the Government of the Federation (SGF) for granting approval to run the programme for the officials across the country.
On his part, Isa Abubakar, the Gombe State Chairman of the Trade Union Congress of Nigeria, commended the BPSR for the training, towards ensuring a good life for civil servants after retirement.
Mr Abubakar, however, appealed to the Federal Government to review the Pension Act, so that retirees could get 80 percent of their benefit upon retirement, while the remaining should be managed by the Pension Commission.
He said that with the hardship in the country, it was imperative to make such a decision to help them invest and earn a living after retirement.
No fewer than 600 retiring/retired federal officials, drawn from the North East zone were trained in the five-day pre-retirement programme.
Some of the retirees also advised serving civil servants to cultivate the habit of saving and financial discipline, as well as investing in agriculture as against waiting for retirement benefits to start life.
