By Agbo Amuche, Abakaliki
The Ebonyi State Local Government Service Commission, in collaboration with Uduchi Enterprises Nigeria Limited, has organized an impactful three-day workshop for local government workers billed to retire in 2026. The training aims to equip participants with knowledge and strategies for a fulfilling and sustainable life after their retirement from active service.
Declaring the workshop open at the commission’s headquarters in Abakaliki, the Chairman of the Ebonyi State Local Government Service Commission, Chief Romanus Okemini Nwasum, said the programme was designed to guide intending retirees on viable alternative means of livelihood after leaving service.
Chief Nwasum, represented by Member Four of the commission, Hon. Ikechukwu Ogbu, urged participants to take the workshop seriously and apply the lessons learned for their own benefit.
Describing retirement as a period of deserved rest after years of labour, he cautioned retirees against becoming idle and encouraged them to engage in productive ventures that would complement their pension and gratuity.
He commended Governor Francis Ogbonna Nwifuru for clearing the backlog of pensions and gratuities owed to retired workers in the state. He assured the intending retirees that the state government remains committed to prompt payment of their entitlements, as well as continued training and retraining of workers in the local government system.
“Governor Nwifuru has paid retired workers their pension and gratuity up to date. It is a clear indication that once you retire, you will receive all your benefits without delay,” he said.
In his remarks, the Chief Executive Officer and Principal Consultant of Uduchi Enterprises Nigeria Ltd., Pastor Uduma O. Iduma, said the workshop provided participants with essential knowledge to improve their daily lives after retirement.
“This workshop focuses on how one can invest and continue to progress after retirement, while hoping for rewarding ventures that lead to more fulfilling lives.
“Life goes on after retirement. It is not a death sentence but a new phase that requires proper planning and adjustment to a new lifestyle," he said.
He commended the commission for involving his organisation in the programme.
Member One of the commission, Architect Augustine Nwechara, noted that the workshop was part of the commission’s efforts to support the good work being done by Governor Nwifuru for local government workers. He encouraged participants to venture into agriculture and other businesses after retirement to improve their livelihoods.
Delivering a lecture titled ‘Agriculture: A Viable Alternative Revenue Base for Retired Workers in the Ebonyi State Local Government System’, the resource person, Professor Humphery Nwobashi, urged intending retirees to engage in crop and livestock production to enhance food sufficiency and create additional income streams.
He added that agricultural activities would improve retirees’ physical, mental, and nutritional well-being, thereby enhancing their economic stability and quality of life.
Some participants, including Obiya Victor from Izzi LGA and Maria Igwe from Ezza North Development Centre, commended the commission for organizing the training and promised to apply the knowledge gained.
In a communiqué presented at the end of the workshop, the participants appealed to the commission’s chairman, Chief Romanus Nwasum, to prevail on local government chairmen and development centre coordinators to pay them their seminar and workshop allowances as they transit into retirement.
They also thanked Governor Nwifuru for clearing pension and gratuity arrears and urged him to sustain the effort.
Other topics covered during the workshop included: Exploring Entrepreneurship Opportunities and Strategies for Retiring Public Servants by Pastor Uduma O. Uduma; Counting Down to Retirement: Proper Documentation and Accessibility by Pius Nwogbaga; Rest in Sweet After Labour: An Overview of Staff Retirement by Barr. George Ukpai; and Stress and Stress Management for Retired Public Servants by Dr. Orji Isaiah, among others.
