PARLIAMENT | NSSF BILL | WORKERS 

KAMPALA - MPs have asked workers not to celebrate the passing of the NSSF Amendment Bill 2021 until it is signed by the President. 

A football game or any other game is not over until the referee blows the last whistle said the MPs.

Paulson Semakula Lutamaguzi (Nakaseke South) said that some Bills have passed twice like the Sugar Bill but they were not assented to by the President. 

“The ministry of finance can easily refuse to release the money saying there is a liquidity crisis at NSSF and the economy,” Lutamaguzi said.

Lutamaguzi noted that The Bill has been passed with many jargons and hurdles which mean many people may find it hard to get midterm access benefits. 

He explained that the jargon of saving for 10 consecutive years, of reaching 45 years can deny some people their money. 

“It is premature to celebrate the passing of the Bill. Where is the local content bill that was passed,” he said.

Geoffrey Kayemba (Bukomamsimbi South) said that if the President does not sign the Bill, it means there is no money at the NSSF. “Workers need to use their money. There is a fear that the NSSF money has already been spent by Government. There should be no excitement as we are now in reality of passing the Bill,” Kayemba said.

Fox Odoi (West Budama) said that in West Africa, a country sought to borrow money for a rabbit multiplication project. 

Odoi explained that the argument was which ministry would get the money. 

He said this rabbit project illustrates how finances of such a project can be manned by the ministry of finance and other matters are managed by the ministry of agriculture. 

Odoi said that peasants in West African country failed to agree whether the loan goes to the ministry of finance or that of agriculture.

He said that the peasants argued that rabbits do not need funding to produce rapidly because they do it naturally.

Abdu Byakatonda (Workers) said that NSSF should be able to provide more benefits to cater for the welfare of workers. 

In international practices, there are provisions of benefits for housing, injuries. 

NSSF can introduce more benefits following ILO international practices. 

Mathias Mpuuga Leader of the Opposition said the parameters for midterm access should be expanded. 

Mpuuga said that there can be calamities in the economy, recession where people need to access their money.

Workers saving with NSSF who have been financially hit by COVID-19 can now smile as Parliament has passed a law that gives them relief to an early access to a portion of their retirement savings.

Parliament has passed the long-awaited NSSF Amendment Bill 2021 allowing workers who reached 45 years and have saved for 10 years to get a portion of not more than 20% of their total savings if they decide to take it. 

The attorney general Kiryowa Kiwanuka read clause 24A (2) on the midterm access that was long-awaited and unanimously received ‘ayes’. 

The ‘ayes’ have it said Speaker Jacob Oulanyah. Oulanyah said he had received many phone call petitions asking for the Bill to be passed without further delays.

Clause 24A (2) provides that a person reaching 45 years can get midterm access after saving for 10 years. 

Under clause 24A (1) a voluntary contributor can access his savings without the conditions of midterm access set out for mandatory contributors. 

Under clause 12 a person with a disability who has reached 40 years and has saved for 10 years can access 50% of savings as midterm access. 

The argument was that persons with disability face many challenges and may not easily get other jobs once they have lost the first one. The NSSF Bill was passed by the 10th Parliament on 17th February 2021, before it was returned to the House by President Yoweri Museveni.