The Rivers State Government has hinted of plans to carry out another amendment of the state Contributory Pension Law to cover those that will retire from the service from June 2022 to June 2025.
The Director General of the Rivers State Pension Board, Mr.Ijeoma Samuel disclosed this at the 2022 Rivers State Civil Service New Year thanksgiving/dedicated service in Port Harcourt.
The service had as its theme: “Expecting A New Thing”.
Samuel said there was no need for panic by civil servants who were rushing to voluntarily retire from the service.
The Director General noted that all those who will retire from June this year to 2025 will be exempted from the contributory pension’s scheme.
In his welcome address, the Head of Service of Rivers State, Barrister Rufus Godwins called on civil servants to be committed to their work, productive and acquire skills to make them fit into the global world where knowledge controls and rules the economy, pointing out that it was the only way they can justify government’s huge investment in the service.
According to the head of service, if civil servants carry out their duties on time and deliver on their timelines and mandates, the service would move on and government goals would be actualised.
In his remarksin an interview with newsmen shortly after the service, Godwins said that embarking on regular capacity development would improve their productivity as well as launch them into the technology-driven global environment.
He raised the hopes of civil servants, saying that they should expect a turnaround in their fortunes this year.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary, Office of the Head of Service, Dr. George Nwaeke, called for absolute obedience to the rules and regulations guarding the service.
The permanent secretary, who was chairman of the occasion, urged civil servants to obey the rules and regulations while discharging their duties.
Nwaeke said that working against the rules and regulations would be working against the civil service and government while urging them to work diligently.
He described the annual civil service thanksgiving service as special because, there was every reason for civil servants to thank God, particularly being alive in this critical time in the country.
Nwaeke also said civil servants in Rivers State should be grateful to God for choosing them to be partakers in the process of building the state at this time.
“We should be thankful to God for choosing us to be the people to lead Rivers State at this time”, he said.
On his part, the General Manager of Radio Rivers, Sir Sampson Fiberesima, promised to promote government to the people.
In his exhortation, Bishop Chris Olisa, who dwelt on the theme of the thanksgiving, advised civil servants to change their mind set from pulling down people to working towards enhancing relationship with others by acting right.
The man of God said in every challenge, there was solution by the corner, urging the civil servants to be prayerful to achieve their dreams.
The cleric also prophesied that civil servants in the state will witness improvement in their conditions of service this year.
The thanksgiving service featured intercession prayers for the Federal Government, Rivers State Government and the State Executive Council, the Legislature and Judiciary, and the head of service; dedication of the civil service as well as performance of the Rivers State Civil Service Choir.
