The immediate past principal of Akure Muslim College, Akure, Alhaja Ceenat Anifowose, says retiring from the Ondo State Civil Service was not a surprise to her as she has been preparing for it in the last few years.
Alhaja Anifowose stated this on the sidelines of an event organised by the Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS), Akure South Local Government chapter in honour of retired principals and tutors in the council area.
While thanking God for helping her to combine the teaching profession with motherhood successfully, the doyen of Education who is a Matron of Muslim Media Practitioners of Nigeria, Ondo State Council urged active civil servants to prepare for the days after service.
Speaking earlier, the State Commissioner for Education, Mr Femi Agagu, reiterated the efforts of the government in improving the welfare of the civil servants through training and retraining.
He noted that Akeredolu-led government has successfully paid six out of seven months arrears owed by the immediate past administration to workers.
The commissioner, who was represented by the Assistant Director in the Ministry, Mr Adesida said plan is in the pipeline by the state government to recruit teachers in order to maintain balance of teachers in both primary and secondary schools in the state.
On her own part, the Permanent Secretary, Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM) in the state, Dr. Olufunmilayo Ajayi, advised the retirees to manage their finances and keep themselves busy for body exercise.
She further enjoined them as they are retiring to take good care of themselves by visiting their doctors regularly and not engage in self medication.
The permanent secretary described teaching as a noble profession that one can be proud of and told them that saving is a culture that teachers must cultivate for them to live peaceful life after retirement.
In his address, the Chairman of Academic Staff Union of Secondary Schools (ASUSS), Akure South Local Government, Mr. Charles Jegede, congratulated the retirees for their successful retirements, disclosing that the union has plan in preparing retirees to life after retirement through training skill with a view to empowering them for post retirement.
Jegede appealed to the state government on the upward review of the principals and their vices allowances and science teacher’s inducements as the old rate is unencouraging.
While delievering the event lecture with the theme ‘Retirement is pleasurable if planned, Dr Kayode Fakolade explained that there is nothing that is well planned that will not be pleasurable.
The guest lecturer charged those who are still in service to engage themselves in skills of interest to have what to fall back on after retirement.
According to him, the lecture would benefit retired civil servants, yet to retire and those who are still in the service.
He enjoined civil servants to plan for their retirements immediately they join civil service so that it does not become a sorrowful experience when they retired
He attributed the disappointment in the contributory scheme of the country to the poor system which he described as another means of exploiting workers.
Fakolade thanked Governor Oluwarotimi Akeredolu for his effort in making life meaningful for pensioners and appealed to him to improve on pension scheme in the state.
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