The Lagos Head of Service, Mr. Hakeem Muri-Okunola has advised staff of the Lagos State Education District II to continue to be shining examples to other districts within the State by maintaining their exemplary status.
The Head of service gave the commendation during the retirement ceremony of
178 teaching and non-teaching staff of the District.
Speaking at the ceremony organised to celebrate the last day in office of the retirees of the District at Immaculate Heart Senior High School, Maryland, Mr Muri-Okunola noted that the staff and students of Education District II had made the State government proud at different competitions within and outside the State.
The Head of Service, who was represented by the Director of Post Service Department, Public Service Office, Mrs. Bukola Durodola, revealed that it was a great feat for the District to have produced the Best Teacher in 2019 and also emerged as the best Public School in 2020.
While noting that all the successes recorded by both the teaching and non-teaching staff of the Education District II could not have been possible without the efforts and contributions of the retired officers, the HoS commended the retirees for serving the State Government meritoriously.
He gave an assurance that the State government will continue to engage them as retirees, disclosing that the Public Service Office has concluded arrangements to hold the maiden edition of a training and sensitisation programme for retired officials from the State Public Service on 3rd and 4th December 2020.
Speaking on the rationale behind the programme, which will be in different segments, the Head of Service informed that the initiative has been designed to engage interested retired officers who still seek an extra source of income, having observed that some retirees invested in businesses, they knew little or nothing about and in the process lost their terminal benefits.
He said that the retirees would be exposed to financial education and intelligence where they would be taught the best way to invest their pension benefits and also engage in other legal and productive business ventures.
Mr Muri-Okunola added that some corporate and government institutions like Standard Organisation of Nigeria (SON), National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) and Export Promotion Council, among others, have been invited to be part of the event where the retirees will have the privilege of interfacing with representatives of these institutions.
He commended the Tutor-General/Permanent Secretary (TGPS) of the District for her leadership style and dedication to the pursuit of quality education.
Earlier, the Tutor-General/Permanent Secretary of Education District II, Mrs. Anike Adekanye, acknowledged the efforts put into the teaching profession by the retired officers, saying that the ceremony was a way of telling the officers that the State Government appreciates the services they rendered during their active years.
She appreciated Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu for prioritising the welfare of all public servants in the State both serving and retired as well as the special attention being paid to the education sector by the State Government.
One of the retirees, Mrs. Olanrewaju Olubunmi Ajibola, who retired as the Head of Department, Co-curricula, Science and Technology, appreciated the State Government for the opportunity given them to serve the people of Lagos.
Yemisi Oreoluwa
