By Steven Atokolo
The Senate has passed the National Assembly Service Pension Act amendment bill for second reading at its plenary on Tuesday.
Leading the debate on the general principles of the bill, Leader of Senate, Opeyemi Bamidele (Ekiti Central) said the bill, which was read for the first time on May 28, 2024, sought to amend the National Assembly Service Pension Board Act, revert to the Contributing Pension Scheme,(CPS), reconstitute membership of the board and provide templates for payment of gratuities.
According to him, the bill also seeks to establish a fund for the scheme, saying that the proposed amendment aimed at providing a workable and pragmatic pension framework for the national assembly staff.
He said the extant Act had raised critical concerns regarding its implementation, adding that “the amendment sought would address all the inherent shortcomings”.
Bamidele said the amendment of the Act was designed to restructure the governance structure of the board and re-introduce the CPS on pension administration of NASS staff.
He said the amendment would also ensure payment of gratuities in line with the Federal Government policy on pension administration.
Bamidele said absence of the proposed framework in the Act has inadvertently affected staff of the National Assembly, who retired from service since 2023,adding that the board was yet to access the necessary funds due to the lingering issues that affected the implementation of the Act.
According to him, the key objectives of the bill is to revert to the contributory pension scheme by ensuring a transparent and accountable system, reintroduce gratuity payments that fairly compensate retirees for their service.
“This is important because the welfare of the staff of the National Assembly should be a matter of priority to us as legislators because the bureaucrats of this institution are the engine room behind our core legislative duties.
“Therefore, their welfare, as it relates to their rights and entitlements, is paramount and must be accorded the needed attention it deserves”.
Senate President, Godswill Akpabio shortly after the bill passed second reading referred it to the Committee on Establishment for further legislative input and to return back in four weeks.
He called for inputs of all stakeholders including members of staff via their various associations on the bill.
