We’re committed to your well-being, Lagos govt tells retired teachers

The Lagos State Government has reaffirmed its commitment to the well-being of the state-owned secondary school teachers who have retired from active service.

The chairman of the state’s Teaching Service Commission (TESCOM), Mrs Elizabeth Olabisi Ariyo gave this assurance at the 2021 welfare forum organised for the retired teachers in the state, who are in their 70 years and above at Alausa Secretariat, on Monday.

She said the administration of Babajide Sanwo-Olu had resolved to ensure that the welfare and wellness of not only the teaching service pensioners but also all the state government pensioners across boards and times are given sustained priority.

She said that was why apart from prompt payment of their pensions and gratuities generally, those in the teaching line are also being brought together yearly to check on their well-being, do medical checkups for them and educate them on healthy lifestyles.

She said the effects of this practice are not limited to pensioners having a deep sense of belonging but are also extended to teachers, who are still in service as evidence have shown according to her that workers in service naturally put in their best and get good results when they have assurance of a secured future post-retirement.

While urging the retirees to continue to maintain a healthy lifestyle so as to live many more years and in good health, Mrs Ariyo promised that government would continue to sharpen the knowledge and skills of teachers who are in service and also take their welfare as a serious business for them to do well at work and other lawful engagements, .

In her welcome address earlier, the Permanent Secretary of the commission, Mrs Toyin Machado-Onanuga, said the 2020 edition of the annual get-together did not hold due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

She said it was a good thing seeing the senior citizens, who had contributed so much to the development of education in the state to remain alive and well more than a decade after retirement, wishing them many more years.

However, some of them who were very excited to be at the event spoke to Nigerian Tribune, sharing their experiences while in service and now in retirement.

They said they had no regret to be teachers and particularly for working in the Lagos State-owned schools as they were retired as fulfilled teachers.

But they said they observed that teachers of nowadays, especially from 15 years back are not as committed and diligent as those who taught students in those old days.

One of them, Madam Aduke Ezezebor, 82, said many teachers nowadays particularly in government schools do abandon their work to look for extra money at the expense of students.

She advised those in that habit to desist from it and concentrate fully on their work or leave the teaching profession entirely if they could not cope with the rules guiding their engagements.

On the welfare forum organized for them, she said every pensioner in the state teaching service always looks forward to the event as it also served as reunion to them.

She declared that should the state government not bother about their welfare after retirement, they would not have honoured the invitation to the forum.

She, however, urged the government to make schools more conducive for teaching and learning in the state.

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