Having served in the federal civil service for over 32 years, Alhaji Kim Alamutu retired as a director in January 2021. In this interview with IFEDAYO OGUNYEMI, he spoke on life after retirement and the need for the government to improve the remuneration and other pension benefits for retirees.
What can you tell us about your career as a civil servant before your retirement?
I worked as a civil servant for about 32 and a half years. I started as an Accountant Grade II at the Neuropsychiatric Hospital, Aro, Abeokuta in 1988. When the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Abeokuta came into being, I transferred my service there in 1994 as a Senior Accountant. I rose through the ranks as a senior civil servant. I started in the Accounts department and was later posted to the Audit department in 2008, I was there till I retired in January 2021 as a director after attaining 60 years of age.
How did you feel as you approached retirement?
It didn’t come as a surprise and I didn’t feel sad about retiring because before then, I attended a lot of seminars on retirement where we were briefed on what we were likely to encounter after retirement. I even wrote and published a book on “How to Attain a Successful Retirement Life,” based on my experience from various seminars on retirement that I attended. I was prepared for retirement and I knew what I was going to face and I was not disappointed. I knew quite all well that life after retirement may not be as smooth as it used to be. I also wrote an unpublished book on the health of the various stages of life, particularly about life in the 50s and above when people usually experience various health challenges, the most common of them being hypertension and diabetes. I visited libraries and researched widely on them but I haven’t published the book. So, with all that knowledge, I knew what was to be expected after retirement. If you are earning about N600,000 as a monthly salary, you should know that upon retirement, you will earn way less than that and you may even have health challenges that you may battle with. Some may even have children in secondary school but I was lucky not to have fallen into that category even though I still have a child in the tertiary institution whom I take care of with my little pension aside from daily family upkeep, my health and other things like socialising because I still attend family-related parties and engagements. I also engage in professional activities; I am a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Nigeria (ICAN) and I attend at least two of four meetings held every year. I still do attend Assalatu almost every Sunday.
What would you say are your biggest concerns about retirement?
My biggest concern will be that what the government is paying as pension is not enough to maintain or sustain an average pensioner. The government should improve on what they pay pensioners. I know what you get as a pensioner is in relation to the salary you were getting while still in service. Notwithstanding, the government should improve on it. Recently, we were talking about the increase in salary for those presently in service, what about those of us who are no longer working? What is good for the goose should be sauce for the gander. The present system of paying pension is fairly okay but it should be improved on. They can adopt some of the measures being taken by the Ogun State government. I know that retirees in Ogun State start getting their pensions immediately after they retire, but it is not like that with the Federal Government where you are mandated to wait for about a year before you get your pension, gratuity and other retirement benefits. During that one-year moratorium, you will almost eat paper and beg your enemies to give you money because, during that one year, you are not earning any money except for those who have other streams of income. Without that, you will become a pauper. I was unlucky such that I didn’t start getting my benefit until about two years after retirement because somebody made some mistakes somewhere.
How was life during those two years?
It was hard and very difficult.
Would you say that the Nigerian system makes better retirement plans for retirees, looking at it from the perspective of finance and preparation for mental and physical health challenges?
It’s not good enough. The government must begin to look at addressing the health of people in retirement. Having served the government for more than 30-something years, you have become government babies; they rather call us senior citizens. The government must provide for our healthcare in retirement.
How has your routine changed since you retired and have you been able to pick up new hobbies and interests?
I have now picked up an interest in buying and selling. As an accountant, many of my colleagues expected that I would set up an auditing firm and do whatnot. I have looked at figures for many years, I cannot continue to stare at computers forever. And that is why I have now ventured into buying and selling of building materials and my shop is a few metres away from home such that it is easy to get there either by car, motorcycle or leg, which is a form of relaxation for me.
What do you miss most about working in the civil service?
I miss the company of my friends. While we were in the service, we held meetings and interacted a lot, particularly towards the end of our service. At the close of work sometimes, we go out to relax. That is one of the many things I miss. Ironically, it feels like we had more to ourselves while in service than now when we have retired. If I go to the shop in the morning, I won’t get home until around 6 pm. What pushed some of us into businesses that eat into our time is that what the government is paying us is not enough. The same thing applies to some of my friends. Retirement should be a time when you get more time to relax, but it’s not the case for many of us because of the cost of living and unlimited expenses. They give us pension, but it is not enough to take care of our daily expenses.
Were there any challenges or surprises that came with your retirement?
The major challenge I had was not getting paid on time. I waited two years before I got anything. Outside that, there is no challenge or surprise that came with retirement for me.
Is the payment of your pension regular?
Yes, it is being paid regularly and I commend the government for that. If you don’t get it on the set-aside date, you will get it the following day. The government hasn’t failed in that regard.
If you were to go back in time, what would you have changed or done differently to prepare yourself for life after retirement?
I have been trying to engage in endeavours that would bring in more money after retirement. Even with that and the pension, it is nearly enough. The summary is that the government must improve on what is paid to retirees as pension. I know a man who retired after 35 years of service. He is spending more time on the farm, rather than resting.
How has retirement affected your relationships with family and friends?
I have more time for them now and most of the time, we speak on the phone.
What community, social and religious activities do you engage in at the moment?
I am part of the executive committee in my community association. I attend meetings regularly. I attend Assalatu at least thrice a month despite the challenges of transportation which we are presently facing.
What would you say is the most fulfilling part of retirement for you?
That I have more time to spend with my family and take care of them.
