The Cross River State Ministry of Establishments, Training and Pensions has organised a two-day capacity-building workshop for pension desk officers to promote efficient pension administration, proper documentation and improved service delivery across the State's civil and public service.
The workshop, held at the College of Health Technology, Calabar, brought together resource persons and participants to examine key issues affecting pension administration and equip officers with the knowledge and skills required to discharge their responsibilities effectively.
In her welcome address, the Commissioner for Establishments, Training and Pensions, Mrs. Lawrencia Ita, emphasized the importance of effective pension administration in ensuring a smooth retirement process and improved welfare for retired civil and public servants. She urged participants to utilize the training for better pension administration.
Declaring the workshop open, the Auditor-General of the State, Mr. Effiong Asuquo Ita, urged participants to take full advantage of the training to improve their professional competence and strengthen accountability in pension administration.
Seasoned resource persons facilitated various sessions: Mr. Achibong Edem spoke on the Roles and Responsibilities of Pension Desk Officers, while Mr. Daniel Agbor addressed Pre-retirement Planning and Identification of Prospective Retirees, and Elder Omini Egu handled Pension Laws, Ethics and Administrative Compliance.
In his closing remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Dr. Dominic Ogbeche, expressed appreciation to the facilitators and participants for their contributions to the success of the exercise and encouraged the officers to apply the knowledge gained to their daily duties for improved efficiency and timely pension administration.
The initiative underscores the State Government's commitment to strengthening the capacity of pension desk officers, improving administrative efficiency and promoting a more transparent, accurate and responsive pension system for serving and retired civil and public servants in Cross River State.
By Orlando Otu
