From Maiharaji Altine, Gusau
The Zamfara State House of Assembly has called on Governor Bello Matawalle to reclaim about N500m unclaimed funds domiciled in different accounts of Pension Fund Administrators to settle the retired civil servants their retirement benefits.
The House also recommended that, the Governor should seek audience with Attorney General of the Federation and Minister for Justice as well as the Director General Pension Commission to discuss ways and modalities regarding the repayment of state civil servants their earlier contributions.
In a statement, the spokesperson of the House, Alhaji Mustafa Jafaru Kaura said, “These are some the resolutions reached when the House received a report of an ad-hoc committee set up late last year to investigate the activities of Pension Fund administrators in the state”.
“The chairman of the ad-hoc committee who doubles as Deputy House Leader, Hon Nasiru Bello Lawal Bungudu read the committee’s findings and offer solutions through some far-reaching recommendations”.
“Members took turn and contributed positively on the report and later adopted all the six key recommendations which were read by the Speaker, Honourable Nasiru Mu’azu Magarya”.
“With these recommendations of the ad-hoc committee and subsequent resolutions by the House on the matter, it is now expected that the Executive Arm of the government will take action to fish out these huge amount of money kept in different accounts of Pension Fund administrators for the benefit of retired employees of the government”.
In a related development, Speaker Magarya directed the Chairman, House Committee on Primary, Basic, Secondary and Non formal Education, Hon Yusuf Alhassan kanoma to read the petition of Private School Proprietors Association of Nigeria Zamfara State Chapter on the proposed levy increase by the state ministry of education.
After intensive deliberations, arguement and counter arguments by the members on the merits and demerits of the proposed levy increase, the Speaker ordered that the petition be given to the House Committee on Public Petitions to investigate the matter and submit its findings within two weeks .
Two executive bills which included a bill for a law to provide for the administration of criminal justice system in the courts of the state and for other related matters 2021 and a bill for a law to establish penal code law of the state to penalised crimes established under the law 2021 scaled first reading at the floor of the House.
While commending the chairman, members, and secretariat of the ad-hoc committee for a job well done, the Speaker ordered Hon Salihu Usman Zurmi to adjourn the plenary session till Monday 01/02/2021 for the continuation of the House plenary .
It isVery good indeed, looking in to present and current situation affecting retired civil servants,due to increase of commodity and other life components.