AKHA passes pension bill into law BY JOSEPH OKON

 

- Gives Ultimatum of 28 days for refund of Pension Fund

The State House of Assembly has passed into law a Bill making provisions for the computation and payment of pensions and gratuities to public servants in the State.

The House in a unanimous agreement passed the Bill into law during last Thursday sitting of the lawmakers after a motion for its second reading was moved by its key sponsor, Hon. Udo Kerian Akpan, the Deputy Speaker.
Speaking on behalf of other sponsors of the Bill, the Deputy Speaker noted that the former Akwa Ibom State Pension Law needed to be corrected and rephrased; adding it gave room for series of litigations and labour unrest at its point of implementation.

Speaking in support of the bill, the member representing Nsit Ubium State constituency in the House, Barr. Onofiok Luke, observed that the issue of pension and gratuity payment to retired public servants in the State must be given serious attention by the House. He maintained that refunds to those who have contributed to the State Pension Scheme should be a priority to the House as well as the ensurement that the contributors do not face untold hardship at the point of getting back their monies.

The Speaker, in his comment on the Bill observed that the inability of the Federal Government to make laws protecting the rights of retirees is responsible for the unmerited hardship they encounter after their years of relentless service to the State and charged government agencies responsible for the dispensation of pension and gratuity funds to ensure that their recipients get back their monies in 28 days.

The Bill was passed into law and a committee, headed by the Deputy Speaker, Hon Udo Keiran was constituted to ensure the full compliance of the House’s directive by the State pension scheme.