The Ogun State Head of Service, Alhaja Selimot Ottun has charged workers in the State to plan for their retirement by acquiring necessary skills, in order to prepare for challenges ahead.

          Alhaja Ottun who stated this in Abeokuta, during a 2-Day Pre- Retirement Workshop organised for retiring Public and Civil Servants in the State, with the theme; "Entrepreneurial Life After Retirement", congratulating all retiring officers for their meritorious service and contribution towards the development of the State.

          She said retirement is an indication of ageing, with attendant health issues and natural ability to carry out some activities would be reduced, noting that income would be greatly minimised and officers must be prepared to cope with life after retirement.

          "The Public Service itself is a transition, wherein there is a date of appointment and retirement for every worker in the service. That is, right from the day of appointment, the date of retirement of an officer is known.

          “As stipulated in the extant law, the statutory retirement in the public service comes on clocking 35 years of service or the attainment age of 60 years, whichever comes first. But events have shown that most officers do not take much cognisance of their dates of retirement which catch them unaware, because they never planned for it", the HoS said.

          In her welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Bureau of Establishments and Training, Mrs. Lydia Fajounbo, said the Bureau saw the need to prepare retiring officers with knowledge and skills for the challenge ahead.

          In his presentation on ‘Nature and Challenges of Retirement’, the Resource Person, Dr. Charles Oladimeji from MOC Consulting Limited, said retiring officers could avoid retirement crisis by taking stock of their present finances and assets, review day-to-day living expenses, cut down socials or outings, take up a less strenuous job if opportunity arises, stay focus and think of activities that would add value to their lives and businesses.

          Speaking on behalf of other participants, an Officer in the Ministry of Industry, Trade and Investment, Mr. Akinbo Olatunji appreciated the Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun for the opportunity to learn some skills that would help them after retirement.