The Edo State Government has presented cheques amounting to twenty three million, seven hundred and forty five thousand, three hundred and five naira, fifty two kobo (N23,745,305.52) to seven families of deceased employees.
Speaking during the occasion, the Permanent Secretary and Chairman of the Edo State Pensions Bureau, Mrs. Aikefe Aigbavboa, on behalf of the State Government, offered condolences to families of the deceased employees while reiterating Government’s commitment to the welfare of workers in the State.
Mrs. Aigbavboa said: “I want to on behalf of the Government of Edo State, express our heartfelt condolences to families of bereaved employees who are represented here today. We cannot begin to fathom the effect of the loss you have had to suffer. While we have wept and grieved for the physical losses, we may now also find time to cherish the functions and life of the deceased. It is our hope that these cheques would help cushion the effect of your loss, as the Government remains committed to the welfare of all workers and their families in the State.”
Noting that the presentation of the cheques was made possible by Government’s implementation of the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS), Aigbavboa stated, “The Scheme is a product of the Pensions Reform Act (2014) and the Edo State Contributory Pension Scheme Law (2010). Today’s presentation of cheques is the twenty-sixth in the series, with over 180 families benefitting since the inception of the scheme in 2017. Over N533 Million has so far been disbursed to family members of deceased employees.”
The cheques were presented to members of the deceased employees by the Edo State Head of Service, represented by the Permanent Secretary (Human Resources), Office of the Head of Service, Mr. Igberaese George.
Thanking the State Government on behalf of the recipients, Mrs. Florence Masajuwa, next-of-kin to one of the deceased employees, expressed her appreciation to Edo State Government.
Masajuwa said, “On behalf of all of us, we want to appreciate the State Government for making this possible. This way of showing concern and appreciating your workers even after they are dead, is something we must thank the Edo State Government for. It means the Government is concerned about the families they have left behind. We are really grateful. We thank the Governor of the State, Mr. Godwin Obaseki for his concern for workers.”
Section 11 (1) of the Pension Reform Act makes insurance mandatory for all public servants which should be provided for by the employer, in this case, the State Government. It is a life assurance policy.
The Edo State Government pays a yearly premium for all State employees in the CPS; this the Governor Godwin Obaseki-led administration has been paying since 2017 in conformity to the full implementation of the CPS. On the eventual demise of any public servant in the State enrolled in the CPS, family members get three times the annual salary of the deceased as insurance compensation, which is the first of three components of the deceased employees’ death benefits.
The names of the seven (7) deceased State employees are; Ighodaro Luther Ojeifoh, Arasomwan Rose Evbu, Masawaju Duke, Moloku Anthony, Inegbedion Gladys A., Iyen Orobosa, Philip Obofoni Mercy, while the family members who received their respective Life Assurance cheques are Favour Ighodaro Ojeifoh, Arasomwan Loveth Inuaghata, Masajuwa Florence Uluma, Onalu Faith, Inegbedion Godwin Aidenojie, Iyen Efe Queen and Athekame Bose.
