Commissioner Lists Benefits Of New Pension Law

The Rivers State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Mr. Charles Gogo Levi says the proposed Pensions Law for elected state governors and their deputies would check corruption because it would reassure would-be beneficiaries that their future had been taken care of.

Mr. Gogo Levi made the assertion yesterday while speaking at a public hearing on a bill to provide for the payment of pension and other fringe benefits to public office holders in the state.

He explained that the bill which seeks to domesticate the law of the federal government was passed in 2003 by the state lawmakers adding that what is needed now is an amendment because it has the tendency to engender good governance.

According to him, the law when passed would create a disincentive for the governor and his deputy to tamper with the treasury noting that there will be no reason to steal public money since there is a planned arrangement for their welfare after leaving office.

The Budget and Economic Planning Commissioner said the amendment being proposed would strengthen the process and improve on the existing law number 7, of 2003.

Declaring the public hearing pen, the speaker, Rt. Hon. Otelemaba Amachree, said the 7th Assembly would not be afraid to make laws that would improve the developmental aspirations of the state.

The speaker who was represented by his Deputy, Hon Leyii Kwanee, urged the public to feel free to make their input to the debate and assured that the House would be guided by their contributions.

The chairman of the House Committee on Finance and member representing Eleme Constituency, Hon. Josiah John, who introduced the bill at the public hearing explained that the proposed law was a private member’s bill which emanated from the leader of the House and member representing Emohua Constituency in the Assembly.

Hon John hinted that the law was passed in 2003, but the proposed amendment seeks to comply with sub-section 2 of the 1999. Constitution and appealed to the public to make useful contributions to help the House make informed laws for the state.

In his contribution, a former speaker of the State Assembly representing the forum of former lawmakers, Hon. Stephen Ezekwe, argued that the proposed law should cover other elected persons, particularly the House leadership.

The Accountant General of the State, Mr. Ngozi Abu, said the House should be specific and make the issues clear to avoid misinterpretation, noting that they should be explicit on who benefits from the law.

Similarly, the chairman, Board of Internal Revenue, Mrs. Onene Osila Obele-Oshoko, suggested that the title of the bill should be re-captioned to avoid ambiguities that would pose as impediments to the implementation of the law.