The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, has said that no pensioner in the state is being owed any arrears, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to prioritising the welfare of retirees.
This was disclosed in a statement issued on Monday by the Governor’s Special Adviser on Media and Publicity, Gbenga Akosile, following a courtesy visit by the senior management team of the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate, led by its Executive Secretary, Tolulope Odunaiya, to Lagos House, Marina.
According to the statement, Sanwo-Olu said his administration holds pensioners in high regard and will continue to treat them with dignity, fairness, and equity.
“We, in Lagos State, understand and value the lives and contributions of our pensioners. We know that they dedicated significant parts of their lives serving the government,” he said.
Highlighting reforms under the contributory pension scheme, the governor stated that Lagos has settled all outstanding liabilities.
“Regarding the contributory pension, we are the only state today that does not have any arrears. Over the past three years, we have cleared all liabilities. No pensioner can claim that we owe them three years’ arrears,” he added.
Sanwo-Olu further explained that retirees with complete documentation now begin receiving their benefits shortly after exiting service.
“Now, if your documents are complete, you should start receiving your entitlements within two to three months of leaving service. This is what we are currently seeing, and it confirms our commitment.
“For those who have served the country, the least we can do is provide them with respect and a listening ear, so that in their later years they can feel that the government remains appreciative,” he said.
The governor also pledged continued support for PTAD to improve the welfare and well-being of pensioners residing in Lagos.
Earlier, Odunaiya stated that the directorate aimed to strengthen its collaboration with the Lagos State Government, noting that many of the nearly 200,000 pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme nationwide reside in Lagos.
“They are men and women who have faithfully served Nigeria and are now enjoying their retirement. What they seek is straightforward: fairness, dignity, and access to the benefits they deserve,” she said.
She added that reforms approved in August 2025 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu under the Defined Benefit Pension Scheme are intended to enhance social protection and ensure dignity for senior citizens.
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