In his commitment to the welfare of those who have served the State meritoriously, the Prince Dapo Abiodun’s administration has expended over #157.9 billion on pension related obligations from May 2019 to September 2026.

The Governor, represented by the Head of Service, Mr. Olanrewaju Saka, made this known in his remark at the opening ceremony of the 6th Annual General Meeting of the Association of Retired Heads of Service and Permanent Secretaries in Ogun State at their secretariat, Abeokuta.

Governor Abiodun, said 66.75 percent of the amount was used for the payment of pension to 16,420 beneficiaries while 18.44 percent was paid as gratuity to 7,390 beneficiaries and the remaining part was used for other pension related matters.

He explained that the figures showed the administration's resolve to honour its obligations to senior citizens and ensure that their years of dedicated service were duly recognised through sustained attention to their welfare.

The Governor, added that retired public servants now have access to quality health care with the Lifetime Insurance Scheme, launched in July 2026 through the Ogun State Health Insurance Scheme as a reflection of the administration's conviction that retirement should not be retirement from access to quality healthcare, peace of mind and dignified living.

The State helmsman, further said the occasion had provided a valuable opportunity to celebrate an association whose members represented an important reservoir of knowledge, experience, institutional memory and wisdom accumulated through decades of dedicated service to the State.

"Retirement from active service may bring an end to official responsibilities, but it does not diminish the knowledge, experience and commitment of those who have contributed to building the machinery of government. Indeed, the continued engagement of our retired Heads of Service and Permanent Secretaries remains a valuable asset to the State," he said.

He noted that the association had demonstrated that its relevance extended beyond the welfare of its members, through mentorship, counsel, constructive engagement and participation in matters concerning public administration, members had continued to contribute to the strengthening of the Civil Service and remained custodians of institutional memory and valuable sources of guidance to succeeding generations.

He therefore called for the need to strengthen the bridge between experience and new ideas, adding that the wealth of institutional knowledge within the association should continue to enrich policy development, administrative reforms, capacity building and service delivery.

He urged them to use the occasion of the annual general meeting to continue to use their platform to develop ideas and initiatives that will support the transformation of the civil service and contribute to the realisation of the ISEYA agenda by working together to preserve the best of the institutional heritage while creating a more innovative, accountable and people-centred public service for the future.

In their separate goodwill messages, President, South West region of the association, Mr. Ademola Badejo, said the Association had showcased Ogun to the regional level, urging members to be visible in all their activities and programmes.

Also, a member of the Board of Trustees, Rev'd Oye Ositelu, appreciated the founding fathers for the solid foundation they laid on ground which the present members had built on, he therefore, appealed to the members to be more committed and dedicated to the Association.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Association's president, Engr. Adeniyi Abiola, appreciated the State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun for his unflinching support towards them, which enabled the executive council and the members to accomplish the tasks before them.

Engr. Abiola, said no leader can succeed in isolation and therefore expressed deepest appreciation to the members of board of trustees and elders of the association for their unwavering support and counsel to his committee in the last 4 years of 2 terms as the Association's president.

He however appealed to members to freely extend the hands of fellowship and cooperation given to him to the new executive council coming on board as he passed on the mantle of leadership to them.