By Lamin B. Darboe
Information Officer, PMO
Permanent Secretary (PS) at the Personnel Management Office (PMO) describes the new Public Service Pension Act as an act that will undoubtedly reduce cumbersome bureaucracy currently being associated with Government pension processes.
It would be recalled that the new Public Service Pensions Bill 2022 was tabled before the deputies at the National Assembly by the Vice President, Dr Isatou Touray who doubles as the Minister responsible for Civil Service Matters.
Expressing his delight on the passing of the bill by the deputies, PS Lamin Jawara commended the Speaker of the National Assembly, Mariam Jack-Denton and her former deputies for their approval of the bill.
He also commended the vice president for her dedication and keen interest in ensuring that the Bill saw the light of the day. PMO boss Jawara recalled that the VP appeared before the Deputies at both committee and plenary levels for more than six times so see to it that Public Service Pensions Bill, 2022 be approved by the Deputies.
The bill according to PS Jawara, took PMO about three years to get it through to the National Assembly, adding that the delay was partly due to the outbreak of Covid-19 pandemic and mainly also due to thorough scrutiny of the bill by the Public Enterprise Committee (PEC) and Finance and Public Accounts Committee (FPAC).
“The new Public Service Pensions Act shall repeal the Public Service Pensions Act 1950 and the new Act shall centralise the Pension Administration under PMO,” PS Jawara revealed.
He explained that the new Act will be contributory as opposed to the current one which is a non-contributory scheme, stating that the new formula for computing pension and gratuity will give civil servants enhanced pension and gratuity.
Because of its contributory nature, he added, the New Pension Act shall provide civil servants with additional benefits such as Dependants’ Pension for five years, entitlement to some benefits upon resignation, a provision for a missing member, minimum and maximum pension, among others.
