Reps pass bill to exempt police from Contributory Pension Scheme

…As Bill to Amend Armed Forces Act Scales Second Reading

By Gift ChapiOdekina, Abuja

The House of Representatives connected Tuesday passed a measure seeking to found the Nigeria Police Force Pension Board and exempt constabulary unit from the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).

The bill, which scaled done 3rd (final) reading, seeks to make a dedicated pension committee to oversee the medication of pensions, gratuities, and different status benefits for serving and retired officers of the Nigeria Police Force.

Titled “A Bill for an Act to Establish the Nigerian Police Force Pension Board charged with the Responsibility of Administering the Pension Scheme for the Personnel of the Force and to Exempt the Force from the Application of the Contributory Pension Scheme nether the Pension Reform Act, 2014 and for Related Matters (HB. 979),” the authorities was sponsored by the House Leader, Hon. Julius Ihonvbere.

According to Ihonvbere, the projected instrumentality aims to code persistent complaints by constabulary unit implicit delays, inequities, and bureaucratic bottlenecks nether the existent contributory pension strategy managed by the National Pension Commission (PenCom).

The transition of the measure coincided with a protestation by retired constabulary officers astatine the National Assembly complex, who decried the hardship they look nether the existing pension arrangement.

If signed into instrumentality and the committee established, the Nigeria Police Force Pension Board volition person the mandate to negociate and disburse status benefits directly, providing a strategy tailored to the peculiar needs and risks associated with constabulary service.

Meanwhile, the House besides passed for 2nd speechmaking a abstracted measure seeking to amend the Armed Forces Act, Cap A20, Laws of the Federation of Nigeria, 2004. The measure was sponsored by Hon. Aminu Balele, Hon. Midala Usman, and Hon. Daniel Asama.

The projected amendment aims to clarify the roles, responsibilities, and bid operation of the Armed Forces to heighten discipline, coordination, and operational efficiency.

Leading the debate, Hon. Usman explained that the measure would fortify the bid authorization of the Chief of Defence Staff and Service Chiefs, guarantee effectual civilian oversight, and beforehand accountability and subject wrong the military.

“This amendment seeks to intelligibly specify the composition, command, and operational responsibilities of the Armed Forces, arsenic good arsenic delineate the functions of the Armed Forces Council, the Minister of Defence, and the Service Chiefs,” Usman said.

He added that the bill’s provisions would assistance amended the Armed Forces’ effect to information challenges by ensuring clarity successful bid and operational efficiency.

The station Reps walk measure to exempt constabulary from Contributory Pension Scheme appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.