A bill for a law to amend Kogi State House of Assembly Service Commission Law and other matters connected therewith, Law 2023, on Tuesday scaled through its third and final reading and passed into law.
The amendment, among other clauses, extends the retirement age of parliamentary staff from 60 to 65 years old or from 35 to 40 years in service, notwithstanding the provision of the civil service law.
The amendment, in section three, also states 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.
Also, the Chairman of the Commission and his members shall hold office for five years and may be reappointed for another five years of the second term, subject to the ratification of Kogi State House of Assembly.
Earlier in the lead debate, the representative of Okene Town state constituency, Hon. Sulyman Abdulrasaq, who is the Majority Leader of the House, argued that the extension of service years would boost staff performance, morale, and help in the impartation of experience to younger staff.
Other legislators who contributed to the need for the amendments are the Deputy Speaker, Rt Hon Paul Enema, who represents Dekina/Okura, and the representative of Olamaboro state constituency, Hon Ujah Aliwo Anthony.
The House resolved into the committee of the whole for a clause-to-clause deliberation on the amendment, and subsequently, the Speaker called on the Clerk of the House, Chogudo Ahmed Sule, to give the bill its third and final reading.
Also, the bill for a law to establish the Kogi State Meat Hygiene and Inspection and other matters connected therewith, Law 2023, has scaled through its second reading.
Leading the debate on it, Hon. Abdulrasaq, who said the bill is an executive one, argued that if passed into law, it would give room for processed and wholesome meat to be sold in the state. He added that it would also provide a standard abattoir and keep proper data on animals slaughtered in the state.
On his part, Rt Hon Aliyu Umar Yusuf said it would help Kogi generate more revenue for the government and create a hygienic place for slaughtering animals.
Other legislators who contributed to the debate are the representative of Dekina/Biradu state constituency, Hon Ochidi Usman Shehu, and Ibaji state constituency, Hon Comfort Ojoma Nwuchiola, who stressed the importance of the bill.”