Executive beggar: Lagos begins retiree’s pension payment process after PUNCH report

The Lagos State Government has begun the process of paying the pension of a retired local government worker, Michael Odesanya, after a Saturday PUNCH report highlighted his plight over delayed retirement benefits.

Odesanya, a former Chief Administrative and Human Resources Officer, Kosofe Local Government, told our correspondent on Saturday that the government had finally issued an approval letter for his retirement, signalling the commencement of the payment of his benefits.

In the report published on August 9, 2026, Odesanya had lamented the delay in receiving his retirement benefits, as the government had not acknowledged his retirement five months after his retirement.

He said the development had left him struggling financially after years of service to the state.

Odesanya had retired at Grade Level 14 after spending 30 years in the Lagos Unified Local Government Service.

Following the report, Odesanya said the Lagos State Local Government Service Commission, in a letter dated August 10, 2026, with reference number LGSC/P/1821/VII/212, had begun the process concerning his retirement benefits.

The letter, signed by Mrs A.S. Emuzie for the Permanent Secretary, stated that Odesanya’s retirement had been approved by the Head of Service on July 30, 2026, retrospectively effective from March 13, 2026.

The commission also commended Odesanya for his contribution to the development of the Unified Local Government Service and Lagos State.

“While congratulating you on behalf of the Lagos State Government, we would like to express appreciation for your invaluable contribution to the growth and development of the Unified Local Government Service and Lagos State as a whole.

“Kindly accept our best wishes in your future endeavours,” the letter stated.

The commission further disclosed that notice of the retirement would be published in the official Gazette of the state.

Commenting on the development, Odesanya expressed appreciation to PUNCH Newspaper for highlighting his plight and drawing attention to his delayed retirement benefits.

In a letter of appreciation sent to Sunday PUNCH, Odesanya said the approval represented an important step towards resolving the difficulties he had faced, although he stressed that the process was not yet complete.

He wrote, “I write to express my profound gratitude to the PUNCH News House for their humane support to my humble self during my turmoil with the state government over my delayed retirement benefits.

“I am happy to inform your people-oriented outfit that my retirement approval has been given after the PUNCH outcry. It marks the beginning of a concerted effort towards the processing of my retirement benefits, but it is not yet eureka.

“I hereby forward a copy of the retrospective approval from the Local Government Service Commission. God bless and continue to uplift the PUNCH as you care for the downtrodden.”

Odesanya’s case had highlighted the difficulties sometimes faced by retired public servants in accessing their retirement documentation and entitlements after leaving service.

As of Saturday, Odesanya said he was yet to regard the development as the end of his ordeal, noting that the approval had only opened the way for the processing of his outstanding retirement benefits.