Ogun workers have been charged to take cognisance of their retirement dates and acquire necessary skills that will enable them to cope with life after retirement.

The Head of Service, Dr. Nafiu Aigoro gave the charge during a workshop organised by Civil Service Commission for Permanent Secretaries and some Directors, with the theme “Groundwork to Retirement: Prospects and Planning for Post Service Life", at the Commission's Conference room in Abeokuta.

Dr. Aigoro advised workers in the public service to build retirement portfolios that would help manage various challenges they might face in the future, appreciating Governor Abiodun for his commitment to the welfare of workers, particularly at retirement.

"As stipulated in the extant laws, the statutory retirement in the Public Service is 35 years of service or the attainment of 60 years. But, events have shown that most officers do not take much cognizance of their dates of retirement which makes retirement to catch them unaware because they never planned for it", the HoS said.

In his lecture, titled: ‘The Challenges and Prospects of Effective and Efficient Service Delivery’, the Chairman, Ogun State Civil Service Commission, Engr. Tokunbo Odebunmi, highlighted those challenges as, the large size of public service, poor remuneration, corruption, attitude of Civil Servants, and politicisation of the service.

He recommended that the State Government should address the challenges militating against efficient service delivery by organising re- orientation workshops, providing necessary tools, ideal working environment for workers, and carrying out an aggressive campaign against corruption, calling on the Head of Service, Permanent Secretaries and other supervising officers to create opportunities for their subordinates to discuss their personal problem.

Speaking on behalf of the participants, the Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Health, Dr. Kayode Oladeinde, said the workshop was apt because it would have a positive impact on workers and take the public service to a greater height.