The Edo State Government has provided financial support to the families of deceased employees in the Contributory Pensions Scheme (CPS). Cheques amounting to a total of N18,455,114.16 were handed over to six families during a special ceremony.
The event, attended by the Edo State Head of Service, Anthony Okungbowa Esq., represented by Mrs. Priscillia Aziegbemhin, the Permanent Secretary (General Services), Office of the Head of Service, marked the 25th presentation of cheques since the inception of the scheme in 2017. With a total of 174 families benefiting from the program, approximately N533,275,066.89 has been disbursed to date.
“The present show of cheque is the twenty-fifth in the series, with 174 families benefitting starting from the origin of the plan in 2017. A sum of N533,275,0666.89 has so far been dispensed to relatives of deceased employees”. he said.
The implementation of the Contributory Pension Scheme for public servants enabled the government to provide the death benefits, as prescribed in the Pensions Reform Act (2014) and the Edo State Contributory Pension Scheme Law (2010). Section 1 and 11(3) of these laws capture the aspect of death benefits, where beneficiaries receive three times the annual salaries of the deceased employees.
Speaking at the ceremony, Mrs. Aikefe Aigbavboa, the Permanent Secretary and Chairperson of the Edo State Pensions Bureau, expressed the State Government’s unwavering commitment to the welfare of its employees. She assured the families that the government stands with them during these difficult times and will ensure that the benefits rightly reach their hands.
I’d like to express my sympathy on behalf of the state government to you all. We trust that these checks will assist with padding the impact of the deficiency of your friends and family. The magnitude of your loss is beyond our comprehension. We can identify.
“Rest assured, as a government and as individuals, that we are with you to share in your most trying times and to ensure that the benefits that accrue to your loved ones get to you,” the stated.
One of the recipients, Ms. Ugbogbo Cynthia, expressed her gratitude to the Edo State Government for its support and concern for workers in the state. She acknowledged Governor Godwin Obaseki for championing the cause of employees, stating that the cheques provided some relief despite the loss of their loved ones.
The implementation of the Contributory Pension Scheme has become deeply rooted in Edo State’s public service. The government pays yearly premiums for all employees enrolled in the scheme, and upon their demise, family members receive three times the annual salary as insurance compensation. This display of commitment highlights the Obaseki administration’s dedication to the welfare of public servants in Edo State.
Indeed, through this initiative, the Edo State Government demonstrates its resolve to alleviate the financial burdens faced by the families of deceased employees, ensuring they receive the support they deserve.
