By Modupe Gbadeyanka
On Thursday, July 13, 2017, 41 employees of the Lagos State Ministry of Special Duties and Inter-Governmental Relations retired from the Civil Service in a colourful ceremony having served the state meritoriously for 35years.
The event, which took place at Alausa Ikeja, was to celebrate outgoing staff and also encourage those still in service to continue to render selfless services to all residents of the State.
Speaking at the ceremony, the Commissioner for Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, Mr Oluseye Oladejo rejoiced with the retirees for a successful retirement after over 30 years in the service of Lagos State.
Mr Oladejo urged the retirees to put to good use the experience and knowledge they have acquired while in service as well as explore the opportunities outside the Civil Service for personal engagement and development.
The Commissioner stated that the dedication and unwavering commitment of the retirees to the success story of the State were well appreciated and also called on those in active service to surpass their past achievements as the clock steadily ticks towards their exit from the civil service.
Admonishing the retirees and their families, the representative of the Office of the Head of Service, Mrs Adeola Elegushi, remarked that the State government is not unaware of the likely changes in the retirees’ lifestyles and has put in place favourable policies and programmes that would equip and empower them for life in retirement.
She presented Long Service Award plaques and cash gifts to the retirees who had either attained the statutory age of 60 or 35 years in the civil service in appreciation of their unwavering commitment to the state government while in active service.
Responding on behalf of the retirees, Director, Public Affairs of the Ministry of Special Duties and Intergovernmental Relations, Mr Kazeem Rafiu commended the government for the laudable pre-retirement plans for the retirees and expressed their readiness to return the kind gesture of government by making themselves available to serve or assist in whatever capacity whenever they are called upon to do so.
He further advised those in service to be dedicated and support the government in the actualization of its dreams for the civil service.
