The Ad-hoc committee on the State, Local Government’s Joint Account in the Oyo State House of Assembly has organized a one-day public hearing on the amendment of the State Joint Local Government Account (Distribution) Law, 2002 bill to ensure stakeholders’ participation before its passage.
The public hearing on the bill, which was held at the Western Hall, House of Assembly Complex, Secretariat, Ibadan on Wednesday was to ensure stakeholders’ participation to view the pros and cons on the amendment.
In his address, the Speaker, Oyo State House of Assembly, Hon. Olagunju Ojo stated that the bill is an indication of the readiness of the state’s assembly to partner with any institution in making laws that will enhance and promote good governance for the development of the state.
Hon. Olagunju reminded that the state’s legislative arm of government has organized similar event on the Oyo State Family Planning, Reproductive Health and Maternity Bill, 2018 for the purpose of obtaining input of every concerned individual and corporate organization in the state.
He implored the general public to continue to synergize with the state’s law making body to take the state to a greater height.
Hon. Abdulwasi Musah, who is the Deputy Speaker of the House, disclosed that the intention of the bill is to make provisions for adequate payment of retired primary school teachers’ pensions and gratuities.
Hon. Musah, who is also the Chairman, Ad-hoc committee on the bill reiterated that the involvement of all stakeholders is to jointly find lasting solution to the issue of backlog of pension’s arrears and gratuities of retired primary school teachers and members of staff of local governments.
He opined that an amendment of the bill will enable the monthly pension entitlement of retired primary school teachers to become top priority in the statutory allocation of local government.
In their separate presentations, representatives of the Ministry of Justice, Bar. Tunji Thomas and Association of Local Government of Nigeria (ALGON) and Chairman, Omi Apata LCDA, Bar. Adeniyi Oyekunle commended the initiative of the House of Assembly to bring all stakeholders together to forge a common front on the retired primary school teachers and pensioners’ issues.
Bar. Tunji Thomas, while presenting the position of the state’s Ministry of Justice advised the House of Assembly to step down the amendment for the benefit of the state. While Bar. Adeniyi Oyekunle implored the House to also look into how sources of revenue generation for local government areas that has been hijacked by state government will be returned in order to improve on its revenue base.
Oyo State President, National Union of Local Government Employee (NULGE), Titilola Sodo, while applauding the state’s legislative arm of government, threw the weight of the union behind the amendment of the bill to address the age-long problems of pensioners.
Packaged by Kunle Gazali
