A former Head of Service (HoS) in Oyo State, Mr. Soji Eniade on Saturday encouraged retirees to be ahead of time in preparing for their retirement the moment they get employed, just as he shared specific retirement tips.

Eniade , while speaking at a reunion program organised by the 1997 set of Bishop Phillips Academy, Ibadan, also stated that financial issues have  made pension unreliable as state governors are finding it extremely difficult to be up to date in salary payment.

The ex-Head of Service, who was  ill-at ease over the already gloomy unemployment situation in the country said , ” It is unfortunate that many graduates who are unemployed are still in the labour market so many parents who invested in their children’s education suffer from this”.

According to him, “It is important for every hale and hearty employee to prepare for his retirement right now. While I was in active service. My mother gave me two advises: don’t use all your hands to eat and don’t use your money for bean cakes (enjoyment). It is important for workers to start preparing for retirement right from the day they start working,”he said.

“I am not vast about the retirement pattern in the private sector because I served in the public sector. In most cases when some organizations restructure, they will have to downsize, extinction, bankruptcy, and other factors can cause retirement.

“Due to the many challenges of pension in the country, the federal government adopted the British model of contributory pension but it has failed because many states of the federation can’t meet up because they refuse to pay.

“In essence, financial issues have made pension unreliable. How do you expect states that can’t pay salary to pay pension? I’ll use this moment to commend Governor Seyi Makinde, he is doing well in that regard.

“In Britain, retirement life is very easy because you are entitled to various things like free basic healthcare and transport ticket but all these are not readily available in Nigeria. Most retirees in our country use their pension to buy drugs to feed themselves in life”, he submitted.

Sharing tips on how workers can secure a good retirement plan, Eniade continued: “Good and trusted relationship with spouses. Good upbringing and quality education for our children. The holy Bible says ‘train your child and he shall give you peace.

“During our days, public education had great quality and schools like Bishop Phillips Academy that were privately owned was heavily subsidised by the government making it affordable for everyone but the situation is not the same today again. In this case, all of us must continue to advocate for quality public education in the country.

“The fourth point is good healthcare”, he emphasized.

Also commenting at the event is a three-time Commissioner in Oyo State, Dr. Morounkola Thomas, who spoke on the topic: ‘Importance of quality education in nation building: the place of alumni group under review’.

The former Executive Assistant to late Governor Abiola Ajimobi on political matters, noted that the place of alumni association as a critical stakeholder in the provision of quality education in schools is of essential importance.

Earlier in his welcome address, the Ibadan Regional Chairman of the 1997 set of the alumni association, Pastor Oyewale Oyegoke appreciated all members who took their time to attend the reunion program despite their tight schedule.

Speaking further, he revealed that in 2020, the alumni association embarked on a project titled ‘operation zero tattered cloth and footwear’.

According to the Chairman, the project, which involves the provision of new school uniform and footwear for students with tattered ones; recorded a success story, assuring that the association is determined to do more.

Dignitaries present at the epoch -making event include, the National Chairman, Bishop Phillips Old Students’ Association, Ibadan Region, Alhaji Adekunle Ogunshola; National chairman, 1997 set, Mr. Femi Akintayo among others