Edo Assembly Considers Bill to Domesticate Harmonized Retirement Age for Teachers in Edo state
On resumption of plenary, the House of Assembly considered the Bill to domesticate the Harmonized Retirement Age for Teachers in Edo state 2023 and the purpose connected therewith, which according to the House Majority leader Hon Charity Aiguobarueghian, while flagging off debate is in the spirit of uniformity, alignment and harmony for Teachers in the state.
Hon Aiguobarueghian called on other members to support the bill as it will further enhance the welfare of Teachers who get better with age and experience.
He maintained that after the National Assembly passed it into Law, some states have followed suit upgrading the Retirement age from 60 to 65years and the cumulative years of service from 30 to 40 years, a move which will aid the development of the Teachers, as the older ones have more years of mentoring the younger ones.
Other Honourable Members who spoke in support of the Bill include Hon Osezua Ojiezele, member representing Esan South East Constituency, who was of the opinion that training Teachers is capital intensive and it is important to ensure they impart the necessary knowledge acquired on the students without being pressured.
Hon Nicholas Asonsere of Ikpoba-Okha Constituency said it would make the Teachers more useful to serve the Nation better, on his part, the member representing Etsakor East, Hon Kingsley Ugabi while supporting the Bill wants more opportunities for Teachers.
Others who supported the Bill include Hon Ojie Inegbeboh, Igueben Constituency, Hon Edosa Osaro, and Oredo East Constituency, both called for standardization, uniformity, and more incentives for Teachers to give their best, stressing that 60years were premature, emphasising that they still have a lot to offer.
After the debate, the Speaker, Rt Hon Blessing Sheriff Agbebaku also stated his total support for the bill before committing it to the Committee on Education, Rule, and Business to do a thorough job and report to the house in 2weeks.
Also at plenary, the House at the committee of the whole considered a report of the House Standing Committee on Public Accounts on the Audited Report of the office of the Auditor General, Edo State for the years 2021 and 2022.
The report has four findings and Five recommendations, which include MDAs presenting responses and not attending to Queries.
Some MDAs responding late to Audit report.
Some MDAs have a backlog of queries unattended to.
The audited Report of MDAs did not meet with Recommended standards
The recommendations were; timely response and strict penalties for MDAs that run foul, Adequate staffing of Finance departments, All MDAs should reconcile with the Auditor General on time, and Handover details of queries to New officers before the Retirement or transfer of officer in charge, as well as ensure all unresolved issues be treated with Auditor General before it reaches the House.
In another development, the House also received a report from the standing committee on public account on the audited report of the office of the Auditor General of the state for the years 2021 and 2022, and another report from the House Standing Committee on Environment Sustainability and transport on a petition titled “The unlawful revocation/termination of contract by Uhonmwode local government council for consideration as submitted by Hon. Eugene Inegbebor, member representing Igueben constituency.
The House thereafter adjourned sitting to Wednesday 15th May 2024 after an adjournment motion moved by the member representing Ikpoba Okha Constituency, Hon Nicholas Asonsere, and seconded by the member representing Uhunmwode Constituency, Hon Kaycee Osamwonyi.
