The Ogun State House of Assembly, through the House Committee on Establishments and Public Service Matters, chaired by Babatunde Tella, has assured the Joint Action Committee of Pensioners in state-owned tertiary institutions that the Assembly will explore ways to amend the State Pension Law of 2013 to address areas of concern.
Tella made the promise on Friday while addressing members of the Joint Action Committee of Pensioners in State-Owned Tertiary Institutions, assuring them that the assembly would collaborate with the state government on how best to address issues related to pension payments for the affected pensioners.
He stated that the assembly would look into amending the state pension law of 2013 to resolve all grey areas, explaining that retired professors and other staff of tertiary institutions should not be made to suffer before receiving their entitlements.
The lawmaker sought the cooperation of the Bureau of Pensions and other relevant stakeholders in addressing the concerns of pensioners.
He said: “Our job is to create an enabling environment for other arms of government to thrive. We must do everything possible to encourage those who are still serving.
“The issue of Japa Syndrome is affecting our education sector, and the Assembly will revisit the pension law of 2013. There is a need to amend the law.”
On his part, the Assembly Minority Leader, Lukman Adeleye, noted that all stakeholders, including the state Commissioner for Education and representatives from the Ministry of Justice, would be invited to address the issue.
In her remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Bureau of State Pensions, Mrs Arinola Adetayo, explained that the rationale behind the issue of retirement benefits was following the relevant sections of the State Pensions Act, assuring that all concerns raised would be addressed accordingly.
Earlier in his presentation, the chairman of the forum, Prof. Adeniyi Ogundipe, expressed displeasure over the unprocessed pensions of some members since their retirement from service.
He appealed to the state government to intervene and assist in addressing the concerns of retired staff from tertiary institutions in the state.
In another development, the Speaker, Oludaisi Elemide, encouraged youths to be diligent in whatever skills they acquire to be self-sufficient and good ambassadors of their families.
Elemide made this statement while addressing pupils of Lyceum College, who were on an excursion to the Ogun State House of Assembly to learn about the operations of the legislative arm of government in the state.