We owe no retiree, Sanwo-Olu declares

The Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Monday said his administration is committed to supporting the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate (PTAD) to make life meaningful and better for Lagos residents, especially retirees.S

He said the Lagos State Government holds retirees in high esteem and will continue to carry pensioners along and deal with them with dignity, fairness and equity.s

Governor Sanwo-Olu spoke during the courtesy visit by the senior management team of the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate, led by the Executive Secretary, Tolulope Odunaiya, at Lagos House Marina.

The Governor commended the reforms spearheaded by President Bola Tinubu to enhance the overall welfare and wellbeing of pensioners. He said the Lagos State Government has also done some significant reforms for pensioners to reflect the reality of today.

He said, “We in Lagos State understand and appreciate the life and the time of our pensioners. We know that they have used very active parts of their lives serving the government at one point or the other.

“On the contributing pension, we are the only state today that doesn’t have any pension arrears. In the last three years, we have cleared everything that is a liability on our pension. There is no pensioner that would say we owe three years’ money.

“What happens now is that if your documents are complete and you exit, within the first two and three months maximum, you should begin to enjoy everything that you have laboured for, and that is what we are seeing and confirming to you.

“For people who have served the country, the minimum we can do is to respectfully give them a space and listening ear so that in their older years they can know that the government continues to remain appreciative.”

Governor Sanwo-Olu commended the Executive Secretary of PTAD, Tolulope Odunaiya, and the entire senior management team of the Pension Transitional Arrangement Directorate for their steadfastness and commitment to the national assignment.

Speaking earlier, Odunaiya said PTAD is willing to build a stronger working relationship with Lagos State Government, noting that many of the nearly 200,000 pensioners under the Defined Benefit Scheme (DBS) administered by PTAD across the nation live in Lagos.

“They are men and women who served Nigeria faithfully and are now in their retirement years. What they seek is simple: fairness, dignity, and access to the benefits they deserve,” she said.

Odunaiya, who described Lagos as Nigeria’s economic powerhouse and the true Centre of Excellence, commended the Babajide Sanwo-Olu administration’s giant strides in Lagos. She said her agency is confident that with Governor Sanwo-Olu’s leadership, meaningful progress is always possible.

She said the decision of Governor Sanwo-Olu to have found time within his demanding schedule to grant management of the PTAD audience speaks volumes of his people-centric style of leadership and listening ear.

She said: “We are here to strengthen partnerships because when Lagos leads, others follow. Beyond the comprehensive rehabilitation and renovation of the Lagos State Liaison Office as a strategic step toward strengthening service delivery to our DBS pensioners in Lagos State, the Directorate is positioned to implement two landmark reforms under the Defined Benefit Pension Scheme.

“The first is the Pension Harmonisation Policy. In simple terms, it corrects disparities in pensions caused by outdated salary structures over the years. This policy is about restoring social justice. The second reform provides access to healthcare through the National Health Insurance Scheme, administered by the National Health Insurance Authority. This means eligible DBS pensioners can receive medical care close to home without direct financial burden.

“These reforms follow the approval graciously granted in August 2025 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, GCFR, and are specifically designed to enhance the overall welfare and wellbeing of pensioners under the scheme. The reforms align with the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and represent a deliberate step towards strengthening social protection and dignity for senior citizens under the Defined Benefit Pension Scheme.”