…Assures workers of benefits under Contributory Pension Scheme
By Violet Obamwonyi and Iyamu Sophia
The Edo State Government has yet again presented cheques amounting to twenty four million, five hundred and seventy-three thousand, two hundred and five naira, eight kobo (N24,573,205.8) to five families of deceased employees under the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).
The event which took place on Friday, November 4, 2022, at the Office of the Head of Service, further assures workers in the State’s public service of Government’s commitment to their welfare and that of their loved ones.
In his opening remark, the Edo State Head of Service, Anthony Okungbowa Esq., represented by the Permanent Secretary, General Services, Office of the Head of Service, Mrs. Priscilla Aziegbemhin, noted that the cheques were presented on behalf of the Edo State Government, as part of the dividends of good governance enjoyed by civil and public servants in the State under the current administration.
According to Okungbowa, “As we all know, Edo State is one of the leading States that have since embarked on the CPS and the Governor is keeping faith with the payment of the death benefits of our deceased employees, and this is one in the series of such exercises. We really want to express our appreciation to the Executive Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki, for keeping to his promise to pay his own counterpart funds of the contribution.”
Condoling families of the deceased employees who were present to receive the cheques, Okungbowa noted: “Edo State Government sincerely sympathizes with you for your loss and asks that you keep up with the good fight and walk on the good path that your benefactors have worked on and are being remembered for today.”
Also speaking during the event, the Permanent Secretary and Chairman, Edo State Pensions Bureau, Mrs. Aikefe Aigbavboa admonished the recipients to channel the received funds towards a good cause, which according to her, would go a long way to fill the void caused by the departure of their benefactors.
According to Aigbavboa “I want to once again condole with the deceased families represented here today. On behalf of the State Government and the Office of the Head of Service, we enjoin you to carry everyone in the family along. That you are the next-of-kin does not mean the money is personally yours. For those who collected on behalf of mothers, brothers, fathers and so on, please ensure you carry the wives and children of the deceased along. This is the first of the three components of payment you are entitled to.”
One of the beneficiaries, Ms. Favour Osazuwa-Ojo, who spoke on behalf of the recipients, expressed appreciation to the State Government for the gesture. According to Osazuwa-Ojo, “This is a good development; I did not know that something like this exists in this State until I was called upon to come and receive this cheque. I have come and it is real.
“I want to thank Edo State Government for this and commend the seamless, smooth and quick process of paying death benefits, as this would be very helpful. My family and I would forever remain grateful.”
The scheme is a creation of the Pension Reforms Act (2014) and the Edo State Contributory Pension Scheme Law (2010) as amended.
The aspect of the death benefit where the deceased benefactors are paid three times their annual salaries is provided for in section 1 and 11(3) respectively of both laws mentioned above.
It is a Group Life Insurance for employees and this payment is the first of the three components of the deceased employee’s death benefits. In the advent of the death of an employee, their death certificate is sent to the insurance company, which processes their cheques, and payments are made to the families of the deceased by the State Government.
The names of the five deceased State employees are; Benjamin Asekhamen Okanigbuan, Iyamu Sunday, Ojo Peter Osazuwa, Ogbemudia Friday and Eholor Omorodion, while the family members who received their respective Life Assurance cheques are Ikuoriah Adams Momoh, Iyamu Wilson, Osazuwa-Ojo Favour Aizenosa, Osakioya Friday and Olowojoba Mercy Elohor.
