Bayelsa assembly passes pension bill for Dickson, deputy, house members
By Steve Oko
Bayelsa State House of Assembly Wednesday, passed a bill giving the Governor, deputy governor and the House of Assembly members the legal powers to be entitled to life pension.
The new bill captioned Bayelsa State Governor, Deputy Governor, House of Assembly pension bill 2019 repealed the existing Bayelsa State State pensions for governor and deputy governor law 2003.
Wawa News Global gathered that the bill received expedited passage on the floor of the House when it came up for third reading.
According to the new bill the lawmakers like the governor’s and deputy will become pensioners after serving the state.
Leading the opening debate on the bill, the leader of the house, Hon Peter Akpe, argued that the bill, when assented to, will provide reasonable financial security for the beneficiaries, thus, shielding them from the vagaries of the economic uncertainties.
The lawmaker argued that it would save ex-lamakers financial embarrassment at the expiration of their tenure.
He said that those qualified to benefit from the bill must be indigenes of the state who have served in the state as well as in the old Rivers State for a minimum period of two years.
In his contribution in favour of the bill Hon Tonye Isenah representing Kolokuma-Opokuma constituency I, said that the bill which guarantees some measures of financial security help curb the tendency of such public servants from engaging in sharp practices.
He expressed happiness that the law covers both past and present members of the state House of Assembly thereby providing financial succour for them after serving the state meritoriously.
Hon Daniel Igali representing Southern Ijaw constituency III dismissed any possible negative insinuations that the bill might be described as self-serving for the lawmakers, adding that the responsibility of lawmaking is a critical and cumbersome function of government which demands that they should be well cared for.
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