The Abia State House of Assembly has passed a law repealing the Abia State Governor’s and Deputy Governor’s Pensions Law number 4 of 2021.
The Bill titled H.A.B 11: The Abia State Governor’s and Deputy Governor’s Pensions Law Repeal Bill 2024 was sponsored by the Majority Leader and member for Arochukwu State Constituency, Mr Okoro Uchenna Kalu.
Speaking while announcing the passage of the bill, the Speaker, Rt Hon. Emmanuel Emeruwa commended his colleagues for their understanding and cooperation adding that it is in line with the yearnings of majority.
Leading the debate on the floor of the House, the Sponsor of the Bill and Major Leader, Hon. Okoro Uchenna Kalu described the bill as timely as it will help reduce the cost of governance, free funds that would have been deployed in the area to the development of the state and welfare of greater majority of the people who are in dare need of it and urged that accelerated hearing and passage be given the bill.
The House also passed for second reading H.A.B 9:The Faith Based and Private Colleges of Nursing Sciences Establishment Bill 2024 sponsored by the member representing Umuahia South, Mr Emeka Obioma and committed same to its Committee on Health to conduct public hearing on the bill and report back to the House.
The State House of Assembly further took and passed for first reading HAB 10: Abia State Cocoa Development and Marketing Board Bill, 2024 sponsored by the Deputy Speaker and member representing Umuahia East State Constituency, Rt. Hon Okezie Augustine.
Speaking to the newsmen shortly after the passage of the Pension Law, the Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly and Chairman House Committee on Media and Information, Rt. Hon. Augustine Okezie has lauded his colleagues for the accelerated hearing and passage of H.A.B 11: The Abia State Governor’s and Deputy Governor’s Pensions Law Repeal Bill, 2024.
Speaking shortly after the passage of the Bill, the Deputy Speaker who had during plenary thrown his weight behind the passage of the bill said it’s a reflection of the wishes of the totality of Abians as some other states across the country with such a Bill are also taking steps to repeal them.
Rt.Hon.Okezie who represents Umuahia East State Constituency in the House also commended the Governor Dr Alex Otti, a potential beneficiary of the law and a sitting Governor for not interfering in the process.
He identified some of the merits of the bill to include freeing more funds to the state government for use in addressing the needs of the people of the state.
According to the Deputy Speaker, having repealed the earlier law empowering the State Government to pay pensions to former Governors and the Deputies, the huge funds saved from that source will be better deployed into the current developmental strides of the present administration and expressed joy that the State House of Assembly is standing with the people in this.
