The Lagos State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to the welfare, health and financial wellbeing of retired public servants, including pensioners across Epe Division, who dedicated their active years to the service of the state.
Epe Insights reports that the administration of Governor Babajide Olusola Sanwo-Olu and his deputy, Dr. Kadri Obafemi Hamzat, has described pension administration as a key component of its human-centred governance agenda.
The government said its pension reforms have produced measurable improvements in the welfare of retirees under both the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) and Defined Benefits Scheme (DBS).
For pensioners in Epe and other parts of Lagos State, the interventions are particularly significant, as many retired public servants depend on their pension and gratuity payments to meet essential household, healthcare and other living expenses.
According to the Lagos State Pension Commission (LASPEC), the state has paid N168.2 billion to more than 48,000 retirees under the CPS from 2007 to date.
The commission also disclosed that since May 2019, the state government has released N92 billion in accrued rights to more than 25,000 retirees across Lagos State.
The accrued rights cover both gratuity and pension components due to retiring officers, with the government saying it has prioritised the settlement of both obligations.
The development is expected to benefit pensioners from Epe Division who retired from the Lagos State public service and are covered under the relevant pension arrangements.
The administration also increased pension contribution rates in 2020, raising the employer contribution to 10 per cent and the employee contribution to 8 per cent.
The government said the adjustment was designed to strengthen workers’ retirement savings and improve their financial security after leaving active service.
Another major intervention was the accelerated payment of accrued rights to retirees.
In July 2024, the state government released N5 billion in a single batch to 1,963 retirees.
The payment, according to the government, cleared the outstanding backlog of pension obligations under the CPS at the time.
For retirees in Epe who may face financial difficulties arising from delayed benefits, the government’s position is that clearing accrued rights remains a priority.
The administration has also introduced expedited gratuity payments for sick pensioners as an immediate form of financial assistance.
Under the arrangement, the gratuity component is prioritised while the pension element continues to be paid into the retiree’s Retirement Savings Account (RSA) in accordance with established procedures.
The policy is particularly important for elderly pensioners who may require urgent financial support for healthcare and other pressing needs.
Beyond pension payments, the Lagos State Government said it has also continued to provide welfare interventions for retirees.
The administration conducts welfare programmes twice yearly, with thousands of pensioners across the state benefiting from various forms of assistance.
Such interventions provide additional support to retirees facing the effects of rising living costs and increasing household expenses.
Epe pensioners under the Defined Benefits Scheme have also remained part of the wider state pension interventions.
The government extended the N25,000 wage award introduced for state workers to more than 10,000 DBS retirees between December 2023 and February 2024.
This was followed by further increases of 20 per cent and 28 per cent for the category in March 2025.
In May 2026, the Lagos State Government also matched the Federal Government’s N32,000 pension wage increase for its DBS retirees.
The intervention has reportedly pushed the pension wage bill for the affected category up by more than 100 per cent.
LASPEC said its payment activities have continued in 2026, with 1,862 retirees receiving more than N4 billion so far this year.
The commission is also set to disburse an additional N1 billion to another 700 retirees, according to the state government.
For Epe pensioners, the ongoing payments underline the importance of sustained engagement with the pension administration and timely processing of retirement benefits.
The government maintained that its pension policies are aimed at ensuring that retirees can enjoy greater dignity and financial stability after years of public service.
The administration further stressed that retirees should not be forgotten after leaving active employment, noting that their contributions helped build the Lagos State of today.
The pension interventions therefore represent more than financial disbursements, but also efforts to recognise the service and sacrifices of retired workers across Lagos.
As Epe continues to grow as one of the major divisions of Lagos State, the welfare of its pensioners remains an important aspect of inclusive development.
The Sanwo-Olu/Hamzat administration said it would sustain efforts to meet pension obligations and strengthen the welfare of retired public servants.
For pensioners in Epe, the continued release of accrued rights, gratuities, pension adjustments and welfare support offers an important measure of relief amid prevailing economic pressures.
The state government consequently maintains that its record in pension administration demonstrates a sustained commitment to protecting the dignity and wellbeing of retirees across Lagos, including those in Epe Division.
