LAGOS state governor, Mr. Akinwunmi Ambode, has reassured the kinsmen of deceased employees of the state that prompt payment of death benefits, would be made as soon as proper documentation is completed.
Governor Ambode spoke on Wednesday through the Tutor General/Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Education District 1, Dr. Olufolayimika Ayandele, at the “Sensitisation Programme for Beneficiaries of Deceased Staff of Education 1, Agege.
The district recorded death of 26 employees in 2015, while it recorded 18 in 2016.
The governor, while reassuring workers that their welfare was paramount to his administration, said this was part of the mandate of his administration.
He however said, “there is the need to sensitise the people so that they can access the benefits accruable to their loved ones who died in active service.”
“Insurance benefits is one of the programmes that all the employees must be aware of, they need to know how to access it whether dead or alive.
“We want everybody alive, so more efforts is being put into ensuring healthy workforce, peradventure, nature takes its course, hope is not lost.
“Even while dead, family members of the deceased employees should enjoy the benefits of their loved ones and the state government is ready to ensure this,” he said.
Director, Lagos State Ministry of Finance, Mr. Bode Akintunde, lauded the efforts of the government, saying that the government had appointed brokers to facilitate early claim of benefits.
Akintunde, who represented the Commissioner for Finance, Mr Akinyemi Ashade, urged kinsmen of deceased employee to cultivate habits of early report of death, starting from the primary point of duty of the deceased.