LASPEC takes pension awareness campaign to public servants

The Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC) on Friday held a day-long pension awareness programme to educate Lagos State public servants on terminal benefits options under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).

In a move that underscored its commitment to proactive engagement, LASPEC staff, alongside Pension Fund Administrators (PFAs) and annuity providers, took the awareness campaign beyond office walls, embarking on a walk from the Office of the Head of Service to the Budget Office at the Alausa Secretariat, Ikeja.

As part of the exercise, LASPEC officials were deployed in groups to various ministries, departments and agencies within the Secretariat to engage workers directly, answer questions and clarify misconceptions surrounding pension administration.

The awareness campaign extended beyond the secretariat as sound vehicles moved through the Ikeja environs, drawing public attention to pension matters and reinforcing Lagos State’s leadership role in pension administration across the country.

The exercise, described by participants as both enlightening and innovative, attracted widespread attention and reaffirmed Lagos State’s reputation as a model for effective pension administration, which experts say should be understudied by other public and private institutions nationwide.

Delivering a goodwill message at the programme, the Head of Service, Mr. Bode Agoro, described the awareness programme as a deliberate effort by the Lagos State Government to deepen understanding, transparency and trust in pension administration, noting that pension education should not be limited to officers nearing retirement but should begin early in service.

Agoro emphasised pensions represent security, dignity and continuity of care after years of dedicated service.

Unfortunately, he said misconceptions and lack of awareness have sometimes undermined confidence in the system.

This programme seeks to bridge those gaps through direct engagement and accurate information, he said.

He encouraged LASPEC staff to see the assignment as an opportunity to serve as ambassadors of trust and accountability, adding that empathy, clarity and professionalism in their interactions would shape public perception of the pension system.

The Head of Service reaffirmed the commitment of the Lagos State Government, under Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu, to protecting the welfare of serving and retired public servants through continuous reforms and stakeholder engagement in line with global best practices and the THEMES+ Agenda.

He further commended the Director-General of LASPEC, Mr. Babalola Obilana, and the Commission’s management and staff for their consistent and laudable initiatives.

Speaking during the exercise, the Executive Director of LASPEC, who led the walk, said the pension awareness programme was the first of its kind in Lagos State and would be sustained.

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He explained that the programme was designed to sensitise public servants on their rights, responsibilities and available terminal benefits options under the CPS.

He said: “The initiative was borne out of the need to address widespread gaps in pension knowledge among public servants. What we have discovered over time is that many officers are not fully informed about their pension rights and responsibilities under the Contributory Pension Scheme. Some do not even verify whether their monthly deductions are correctly remitted to their Retirement Savings Accounts,” Oshin said.

He explained that the Commission decided to take pension education directly to workers in their offices to ensure early understanding and prevent challenges at retirement.

“We want officers, even those who just resumed service one or two years ago, to understand that pension deductions are investments. They must regularly check that deductions are accurate and remitted promptly, because failure to do so could lead to loss of investment income over time,” he added.

Oshin noted that LASPEC had previously focused on bi-annual pre-retirement workshops for officers within six months of retirement, but the Commission was now expanding its scope to reach officers at all stages of their careers.

This awareness campaign complements our pre-retirement programmes. By starting early, we reduce anxiety, prevent delays at retirement and ensure a smoother pension process for our officers, he said.

On the response from workers, Oshin said the turnout and engagement were encouraging.

“The enthusiasm we saw today was remarkable. Officers were happy that LASPEC came to them. They asked questions that had bothered them for years, and with PFAs and annuity providers present, we were able to give immediate clarification,” he said.

He assured that the awareness campaign would be sustained as part of LASPEC’s broader strategy to strengthen pension administration and safeguard the welfare of Lagos State public servants.