The Lagos State Government has said the N1.2bn paid as pension to retirees was not done to seek support ahead of the governorship election scheduled for March 18.
The news of the payment to 534 retirees had been criticised by some social media users who felt the move was political.
Reacting, the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor of Lagos State on New Media, Jubril Gawat, pointed out that the payment of pension in the state gets done almost every month.
He tweeted, “Pension bond certificate issuance is done practically almost every month. It’s a specified process. Not for election. And Lagos has been one of the most consistent states across the nation.”
Meanwhile, while presenting pension bond certificates to the retirees, the Head of Lagos Pension Commission, Babalola Obilano, urged them to spend the money judiciously.
“The governor is working towards ensuring that we clear this backlog and that’s why you see that we paid N1.2bn. The governor has insisted that every month he’s going to continue paying this amount so that the backlog is cleared,” he said.
Obilano added that the state was also providing health care and free transportation for retirees. (Punch)
