By Friday Idachaba, Lokoja
KOGI State House of Assembly at plenary on Tuesday passed the bill amending the state Assembly Service Commission Law providing for extension of retirement age of Parliamentary Staff from 60 years to 65 years.
The bill crafted as A Bill for a Law to Amended Kogi State House of Assembly Service Commission Law and other matters connected therewith, 2023 which had its First Reading on October 10, had its second and third reading at Tuesday sitting of the House.
The amended law also provided for extension of years of service for the Parliamentary Staff from 35 to 40 years as against the civil service law.
The amended law in section 3 provided 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 according to the new law, shall hold office for a five year tenure and could be reappointed for another five years of second term subject to the ratification of Kogi State House of Assembly.
Leading the debate earlier, Hon. Sulyman Abdulrasaq (APC-Okene I) who is also the Majority Leader of the House submitted that the extension of service year would not only boost staff performance, enhance morale and help impartation of experience to younger staff.
Other members who contributed to the debate on the bill include Hon. Paul Enema (APC-Dekina/Okura) and Hon. Ujah Aliwo Anthony (APC-Olamaboro)
The bill had its third and final reading and passage following overwhelming support from members who hyped its merits above demerits.
Also at Tuesday plenary sitting of the House, A Bill for a Law to Establish the Kogi State Meat Hygiene and Inspection and for other Matters Related Purposes, Law, 2023 which also had its First Reading on October 10 was read for the second time.
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Hon. Sulyman Abdulrasaq (APC-Okene I) also led the debate, and noted that the bill was an executive one.
He argued that the bill if passed into law, would create room for processing of and wholesomeness of meat to be sold in the state.
The lawmaker added that it would also provide standard abattoirs and keep proper data of animals slaughtered in the state.
Speaker of the House, Rt Hon. Aliyu Umar Yusuf said having such law regulating meat hygiene and inspection would also impact positively on the Internally Generated Revenue (IGR) of the state and create hygienic place for slaughtering of animals across the State.
