Review of Public Service Pensions Bill 2020 Nears Conclusion

By Musa Saho

 

The Vice President of the Republic; Chairman, Public Service Commission; and Director, Civil Service Reform, representing the Permanent Secretary of Personnel Management Office; and the technical team, returned to the National Assembly on Friday, 25th, June 2021 to continue the review of the Public Service Pensions Bill, 2021.

The review is being spearheaded by the National Assembly Joint Committee on Finance and Public Accounts and Public Enterprises.

After successful discussions, the meeting agreed to adjourn until next week for a final meeting to conclude on the only outstanding issue.

The Vice President, who is the mover of the bill, was thus requested to provide further analysis and simulation on the formula for calculation of pensions and gratuity benefits in order to conclude on the matter.

The Joint Committee also requested Vice President and team to once again incorporate all the agreed proposed amendments in the bill and submit to the Assembly. This will enable them finalise their report and facilitate consideration during the current legislative session.

The new Public Service Pensions Bill seeks to repeal the current 1950 Pensions Act and will introduce a contributory pension scheme as opposed to the current non-contributory scheme, and also address the limitations of the 1950 Act in terms of pensions administration.