The Senate yesterday passed a Bill that seeks to establish a National Social Security Commission.
The Bill seeks to put in place a National Social Security protection fund to cater for the needs of the unemployed, the aged and children below 18 years from broken marriages.
Also covered in the Bill are survivors resulting from the death of the family’s bread winner.
The passage of the Bill followed the consideration of a report by the Senate Committee on Establishment and Public Service Matters.
In his presentation, Committee Chairman Ibrahim Shekarau (Kano Central) said the Bill seeks to provide the legal and institutional framework for the establishment of the National Social Security Commission for the regulation, management and administration of various social services and benefits to Nigerian citizens.
Read Also: Kuje attack: Senate shocked by no CCTV, porous security
He said: “Ultimately, the Bill seeks to provide a comprehensive Legal and Governance framework for the proper administration and management of all-inclusive, integrated, preventive, promotive and transformative National Social Security regime that provides flexible sustainable periodic social benefits and grants to eligible indigent Nigerian citizens that are within the scope of the Social Security (Minimum standards) Convention, 1952 (NO 102) of the International Labor Organization (ILO) and particularly Contingencies arising therefrom.”
Shekarau added: “The proposed Social Security Commission under this Bill shall provide indigent Nigerians citizens with comprehensive preventive and/or curative medicare from sicknesses resulting from any morbid condition of whatever cause.
“Specifically, the commission when establish by the leave of this Senate shall provide a well-structured impactful, and sustainable social interventions to eligible unemployed Nigerians, old-aged Nigerians, underage children below 18 years resulting from broken marriages and survivors resulting from loss of family’s bread winner.”
The Bill was passed by the Upper Chamber after a clause-by-clause consideration during the Committee of the Whole.