Ogunsan, Obono Urge Security Officers to Build Financial Security Beyond Active Service

 Ogunsan, Obono Urge Security Officers to Build Financial Security Beyond Active Service

LAGOS — The Lagos State Security Trust Fund (LSSTF) has urged security personnel across the state to prioritise financial planning, savings, investment and continuous skills development as part of preparations for life beyond active service.

The call was made during the second day of the September edition of the LSSTF Statewide Inter-Agency Training for Security Operatives, where Professor Oka Martin Obono, Chairman of Case Studies Consulting Ltd and a Sociology scholar at the University of Ibadan, challenged officers to make financial wellbeing an integral part of their professional preparedness.

Obono noted that while security personnel are trained to confront operational risks, many often fail to adequately prepare for the financial realities that may follow retirement.

He urged officers to begin planning for their financial future while still in active service, stressing that financial security requires deliberate management of income, expenditure, savings and investments.

“It’s not enough to have access to an income,” Obono said, encouraging participants to develop the discipline to make their money work for them rather than relying solely on their salaries.

Using the acronym LAGOSPMMP, Obono outlined stages of financial development, from accessing and growing income to ordering, storing and creating long-term value from financial resources.

He advised the officers to monitor their expenditure, prepare realistic budgets and consistently set aside funds for savings and investment.

The facilitator also introduced participants to the 50:30:20 budgeting framework, which allocates income to essential needs, social and lifestyle obligations, and savings or investments.

Obono further exposed the officers to investment options including stocks, mutual funds, real estate, Federal Government savings instruments and treasury bills, while cautioning that investment decisions should be guided by adequate knowledge, proper planning and individual financial circumstances.

He emphasised the importance of retirement planning, describing retirement as an inevitable phase of a person's productive life that should be approached with adequate preparation rather than uncertainty.

According to him, financial planning should begin long before retirement, as early preparation can provide greater stability and peace of mind when active employment ends.

He also encouraged security personnel to invest in continuous education and skills acquisition, particularly as technological developments continue to transform the workplace and create new economic opportunities.

Earlier, the LSSTF Executive Secretary/CEO, Dr. Ayodele Ogunsan, represented by the Executive Assistant, Mrs. Adaobi Nwankwo, commended the facilitators and participating security agencies for their commitment to the two-day training programme.

Ogunsan reaffirmed the Fund's commitment to continuous training as a means of strengthening the capacity and welfare of security personnel across Lagos State.

He noted that the effectiveness of security officers depends not only on operational competence but also on their overall wellbeing and preparedness for life beyond active service.

The training, which brought together personnel from various security agencies, provided participants with practical knowledge aimed at strengthening both their professional capacity and personal resilience.

At the end of the programme, participants expressed appreciation for the initiative, describing the training as an opportunity to gain knowledge beyond conventional operational duties.

The programme concluded with the presentation of certificates to participating officers who successfully completed the training.

The LSSTF said initiatives of this nature remain important to building a more resilient security architecture by supporting not only the operational effectiveness of security personnel but also their welfare and long-term wellbeing.