THE Senate on Tuesday passed for second reading a bill for an act to amend the National Assembly Service Pension Act.
This followed the presentation of the general principles of the bill by Leader of Senate, Sen. Opeyemi Bamidele (APC-Ekiti).
Bamidele, in his lead debate, said that the bill was read for the first time on May 28, 2024.
He said that the proposed legislation sought to amend the national assembly service pension board act, revert to the Contributing Pension Scheme (CPS), re-constitute 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 is aimed at providing a workable and pragmatic pension framework for the national assembly staff members.
He said that the extant act had raised critical concerns regarding its implementation, adding that the amendment sought would address all the inherent shortcomings
Bamidele said that 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 staffers.
He said that the amendment would also ensure payment of gratuities in line with the Federal Government’s policy on pension administration.
Bamidele said that the absence of the proposed framework in the act had inadvertently affected the staffers of the national assembly who retired from service since 2023, adding that the board had yet to access the necessary funds.
This, he said, was 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 and reintroduce gratuity payments that fairly compensate retirees for their service.
He said that the bill also sought to restructure the composition of the governing board to eliminate potential conflicts of interest and enhance governance and service.
Bamidele stated that the bill principally focused on how to create a sustainable, efficient and equitable pension system that serves the interests of both current and retired staff of the national assembly staff members.
“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,” he said.
The senator urged the lawmakers to support the second reading of the bill.
The Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, shortly after the bill was read the second time, referred it to the Committee on Establishment for further legislative input and to return back in four weeks.
Akpabio, who said that the bill was for the benefits of NASS staff, urged lawmakers to be circumspect in considering the bill at the public hearing in the interest of entire NASS workers.
He called for the inputs of all stakeholders, including members of staff via their various associations, to the bill.
