Kogi Assembly Passes Bill for Extension of Parliamentary Staff Retirement Age to 65

Ibrahim Oyewale in Lokoja

A bill for a law to amend the Kogi State House of Assembly Service Commission Law and other matters connected therewith (Law 2023) has scaled through its third and final reading and passed into law.

The amendment, among other clauses, extends the retirement age of parliamentary  staff from 60 to 65 years old or from 35 to 40 years in service notwithstanding the provision of the civil service law.

 The amendment, in section three, also states categorically that a prospective  secretary of the commission shall be a substantive director on Grade Level 16, and upon being so appointed shall have the status of a permanent secretary..

The chairman of the commission and his members shall hold office for  five years and may be reappointed for another five years of second term subject to the ratification of Kogi State House of Assembly.

Earlier in the lead debate, representative of Okene Town state constituency, Sulyman Abdulrasaq, who is the Majority Leader of the Assembly argued that the extension of service year would boost staff performance, boost morale and help impartation of experience to younger staff.

Other legislators, who contributed to the need for the amendments are the Deputy Speaker,  Paul Enema, who represents Dekina / Okura, and the representative of Olamaboro state constituency, Ujah Aliwo Anthony.

The Assembly resolved into committee of the whole for a clause-to-clause deliberation on the amendment, and subsequently, the Speaker called on the Clerk of the Assembly, Chogudo Ahmed Sule, to give the bill its third and final reading.

Also, the bill for a law to establish the Kogi State Meat Hygiene and Inspection and other matters connected therewith (Law 2023) has scaled through its second reading.

Leading the debate, Hon Abdulrasaq, who said the bill is an executive one, argued that if passed into law it would give room for processed and wholesome meat to be sold in the state.

He added that it would also provide standard abattoir and keep proper data of animal slaughtered in the state.

On his part, the Speaker, Aliyu  Umar Yusuf, said it would help the state to generate more revenue for government  and create hygienic place for slaughtering of animals .

Other Legislators who contributed to the debate are representative of Dekina /Biradu state constituency, Ochidi Usman Shehu, and Ibaji state constituency,  Comfort Ojoma Nwuchiola, who stressed the importance of the bill.