CHAPTER ONE

INTRODUCTION

1.1     Background to the Study

Retirement means to stop or withdraw from working simply because one has reached a particular age; either by chronological age or by virtue of years spent in service. Whether one likes it or not, the certainty of one leaving work in either of the aforementioned ways cannot be ruled out. This buttresses the need for employees of today to start thinking and planning for retirement. The issues of how employees perceive retirement, their attitudes towards same and how they plan in that direction has not been given enough attention by researchers, yet the Need to pay attention to this especially in a developing economy such as Nigeria cannot be overemphasized.

Most employees do not find the word retirement pleasant at all, they view the retirement period as the most awful time of their life. The fear of facing the future after retirement “creates an ambiance of disturb’ among employees’ Retirement is seen by workers as a transition that could lead to psychological, physiological and economic problem (Editorial: 2009). Apart from the psychological stress occasioned by diminished status of the retirees, the employees’ financial condition attached to retirement affects the retirees ‘willingness to accept or adjust to the reality of life after retirement. To many, the word “retirement” is associated with negative feelings. Only a few views positively and look forward to it with zeal and enthusiasm (Grangard, 2002).

Employees in every establishment would definitely have received pieces of information about retirement. The kind of information received has the tendency of forming and shaping their attitude towards retirement in positive or negative direction. Attitudes are the feeling and beliefs that largely determines how employees will perceive their environment, commit themselves to intended actions, and ultimately behave. The term attitude is used to describe people and explain their behavior. It has also been described as a feeling which propels an individual to react either positively or negatively towards object idea or event. (Ker, Ekoja and Ekoja, 2007). Workers’ attitudes have a lot of consequences for the well-being. Thinking of retirement for many employees will conjure up varied images. Some may feel it spells the end of productive life or may feel it is the reward for a long career filled 2 with drudgery. Some may see it as a new opportunity filled with time to grow personally. The new ideas about retirement are more focused on asking deeper questions about life purpose, direction and ultimate meaning for retirement. These ideas are more about involvement than rest -which was the view of the old paradigm.

Older workers in the local government are receiving mixed messages that they are finding difficult to resolve; one crucial factor in any retirement is money. Interviews with older employees still working in their late 50s and early 60s would indicate that a number are seriously concerned that retiring may jeopardize their future financial position (Ranzijn, 2004) As people approaching retirement, one of their principal concerns is how to make ends meet after they quit working; while most of them even during employment, the end doesn’t meet and the cost of living continues to rises year after year (Mutran et al. 1997). However, he reported that income level was positively related to attitude toward retirement, suggesting the higher an individual’s reported income, the more positive his or her attitude is toward retirement. The joy that is associated with being employed in a hankered establishment could only be likened to the birth of a new born baby by a newly wedded couple. This is simply because a gainfully employed individual would be able to accomplish social respect, satisfy basic, non-basis needs, and contribute significantly to family and national development among other benefits. The services to be rendered when employed are, however, not expected to be everlasting. Differently affirmed, there will be a specific time when the employee is expected to disengage from active service which is otherwise refer to as retirement from work,

1.2     Statement of the Problem

Retirement work signifies a period of major change in the life of public servants. Such changes are usually devastating and traumatic in the life of the retiree, especially when the person concerned did not prepare for this phase of life. The adverse psychological and socio-economic disposition identified to characterize retired civil servants due to functional discontinuation of their regular financial source of livelihood and its corresponding decline in social status cannot be overstated. Such challenges include financial insufficiency, poor feeding, dysfunctional family matters as well as psychological or behavior disorders like depression, hypertension, identity crisis, alcoholism, loneliness, fast ageing and ill health occasioned at times by lots of good accommodation among others. (Denga. 1986; Tokurboh 1998). Some also experience loss of self-esteem due to lower status in which they find themselves on retirement from a highly exalted position they had occupied as public servants. There is need therefore to investigate employees’ perception and attitude towards the phenomenon, therefore this research is aimed at investigating the attitudes of LGA employees towards retirements in Alausa Ikeja LG in Lagos state.

1.3     Objective of the Study

The main objective of this study is to find out the attitude of LGA employees towards retirements in Alausa Ikeja LG in Lagos state, specifically the study intends to;

1.     Find out the perception and attitudes of local government workers concerning retirement

2.     Find out the effects of retirement on lifestyle of retired local government workers

3.     To find out whether there is a difference in attitude of staff based on the demographics variable like variables, income levels, marital status and time.

4.     Find out the preparation of LG workers towards retirement

1.4     Research Question

1.     What is the perception and attitudes of local government workers concerning retirement?

2.     Is there any effects of retirement on lifestyle of retired local government workers?

3.     Is there any difference in attitude of staff based on the demographics variable like variables, income levels, marital status and time?

4.     What is the preparation of LG workers towards retirement?

1.5     Research Hypothesis

Ho: there is no effects of retirement on lifestyle of retired local government workers

Hi: there is effects of retirement on lifestyle of retired local government workers

1.6     Significance of the Study

The findings of this research is importance to counselors and therapists who assist individuals in preparation for the role changes that are a part of retirement (Security funds interventions counselors), to encounter the main challenges such as health, personality traits, social isolation, changes in personal, economic, social and psychological level that people face in the transition to retirement. In addition, the study findings are expected to be of use by policy makers and labor officers to device appropriate policies of retirement plans to be adopted by the government so as to utilize the labor force and skills of the retirees during their idle time.

1.7     Scope of the Study

This research will cover the perception of LGA workers in Alausa Ikeja local government on retirement and their attitude towards it. This research will also examine their preparation towards retirement and the effect of retirement on retired LGA workers.

1.8     Delimitation of the Study

Finance for the general research work will be a challenge during the course of study. Correspondents also might not be able to complete or willing to submit the questionnaires given to them.

However, it is believed that these constraints will be worked on by making the best use of the available materials and spending more than the necessary time in the research work. Therefore, it is strongly believed that despite these constraint, its effect on this research report will be minimal, thus, making the objective and significance of the study achievable.

1.9     Definition of Terms

Retirement: Retirement is the withdrawal from one’s position or occupation