The Bureau of Public Service Reforms (BPSR) has organized a pre-retirement training for retired and prospective retiring civil servants to help them make the best use of their retirement benefits.
Mr. Ibrahim Dasuki-Arabi, Director-General of the BPSR, stated that the five-day training was specifically designed for officers retiring from federal parastatals. The aim of the program, he explained, was to equip retiring officers with the necessary tools to ensure their quality of life remains high after retirement.
“We have virtually picked 110 agencies now and what we have is less than 10 percent of prospective retirees,” said Dasuki-Arabi.
He emphasized that the BPSR was created to help public servants gain vital skills before retirement, enabling them to smoothly transition into the next phase of life. He remarked, “Retirement is a disaster. The most important exercise that an employee can embark upon is to prepare for retirement.”
He further stressed that retirement represents a significant life change that requires careful planning. “Many people have had very bad experiences in their retirement life possibly because of their failure to adequately plan for it,” he said.
According to Dasuki-Arabi, by the end of the program, participants will have gained knowledge that can help them maintain a sustainable livelihood during retirement, in line with the current administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He encouraged participants to put the knowledge gained into practice, noting that this would help them overcome post-retirement challenges while continuing to contribute to national development.
Dasuki-Arabi expressed his appreciation to President Bola Ahmed Tinubu and the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Senator George Akume, for their support and approval of the program. He reaffirmed the federal government’s commitment to creating employment opportunities for citizens.
During the training, participants received workbooks to guide them in whatever business ventures they pursue after retirement. They were also trained on various topics, including Perspectives on Retirement, Management of Small Scale Businesses, and Health and Wellness Management.
Dr. Amina Muhammad-Liman, a retired civil servant from Bayero University Kano, praised the federal government for the training, saying, “I have learnt a lot on how to be careful with my investment and health.”
Another participant, Prof. Sa’id Ahmad-Babura from Bayero University Kano, urged the government to revise the PENCOM pension law to allow retirees to withdraw up to 75 percent of their pension savings.