By Lamin B. Darboe
Director of Pension, at the Personnel Management Office (PMO) has revealed that the new Pensions Act shall repeal the Pensions Act, 1950 and shall introduce a contributory pension scheme as opposed to the current non-contributory scheme, thus addressing a number of limitations of the Pensions Act, 1950.
Mrs Isatou Dibba recently made the revelation in an interview with Gambia Daily were she also talked about the functions of her office, its establishment, administration and contributions to the Public Service Pensions Scheme and Fund .
She explained that the Scheme is created for the purpose of ensuring payment of pensions, gratuities, and other applicable benefits provided under this Act to public officers.
According to Dibba, the New Pensions Act shall provide civil servants with additional benefits such as dependents’ pension for five years, entitlement to some benefits upon resignation, provision for a missing member, minimum and maximum pensions, among other things.
“The Act shall centralize the Pension Administration under the PMO with a view to providing enhanced pensions to public servants and making the process of pension and gratuity payments less cumbersome and more efficient,” Dibba noted.
‘’Pensions, gratuities, and any other benefits payable under this Act,’’ Director Dibba said, ‘’shall be funded jointly by the government and contributions made by public officers, thus the Accountant General shall deduct from every public officer, an amount equivalent to five percent of pensionable emoluments and the amount shall be remitted to the Public Service Pensions Fund’’.
She said where the government fails to deduct the contribution referred to section (6) sub-section (2); the amount shall be recovered in the subsequent months from the public officer without any notice to the officer.
She further highlighted that The Government shall meet the balance of the cost of the pension, gratuity, or other benefits payable under this Act after allowing for contributions referred to under Sub-section (2).Director of Pensions shall maintain a unique personal identification number to each member of the Scheme and maintain an updated register of members
Moreover, she said her office shall be responsible for the day-to- day administration of the scheme and the administrative and technical matters of the Permanent Secretary.
Director Dibba explained that her office shall open and maintain a pension account for each member with a personal identification number. The information maintain in the member’s account will be reconcile with the payroll records maintained by the Accountant General in respect of deductions made under this Act.
In addition , she said her office shall issue regular communication to members on matters relating to the Scheme, provide customer service to members, including access to member’s account balances and relevant statements upon written request, be responsible for all calculations relating to payable pensions, gratuities and any other benefits which are payable under this Act.
“Director of Pension shall keep and maintain an up-to-date register of members of the Scheme to enable accurate and expeditious actuarial valuation of the scheme at all times cause to be kept and maintained an accurate record of contributions made by persons employed,” she explained.
It could be recalled that the new Public Service Pensions Bill 2022 was tabled before deputies at the National Assembly by the former Vice President, Dr. Isatou Touray who doubled as the then Minister responsible for Civil Service Matters.The new Act was then Gazettes and assented to by His Excellency, the President in April 6, 2022.