SAVINGS FUND 

Members of Parliament on the joint committee composed of the gender and finance committees on Tuesday morning held a meeting to finalize building consensus and writing the report for the National Social Security (NSSF) Amendment Bill.

The Bill, was presented to Parliament in August 2019 by the gender ministry. The committee chairman, Alex Ndezi says they were contemplating consideration of ensuring that NSSF members who are not yet 45 years but have saved for at least 10 years can also be allowed to benefit from the midterm access.

On which ministry will have control over NSSF, Ndezi said, "The matter has been resolved on the basis of an executive order from the President for NSSF to be under the ministry of finance." 

On how long they are likely to complete the report and present it to Parliament, Ndezi said, "We have finished the report.

Technical people are polishing it. We shall be signing the report on Wednesday morning and circulate the report to members on the same day. The Speaker will then make a decision on when we can present it."

Workers' leaders led by Usher Owere recently petitioned the Speaker of Parliament raising concern that parliament had taken long to pass the Bill yet workers want the Bill to be passed to get some benefits like unemployment benefits, midterm access, and relief funds for those with financial hardships caused by the COVID-19 economic crisis.

The workers' MP Sam Lyomoki also last week submitted a notice to the Speaker of Parliament Rebecca Kadaga urging her to ensure the Bill is expeditiously passed.

During Parliament plenary last Wednesday, Kadaga directed the joint committee to ensure the report for the Bill is ready this week.
"I remind the joint committees of Gender, Labour and Social Development and that of Finance that we really need the NSSF Bill.

Given the long time it has taken - and I have issued many ultimatums, the matter will come back on the Order Paper for consideration next week and we will be obliged to proceed with or without a report if the committees are not ready," Kadaga stated.