Senate passes bill to create social security commission

The senate has passed a bill seeking to establish the National Social Security Commission.

The bill was passed on Wednesday and it was sponsored by Ibrahim Shekarau, senator representing Kano central.

The legislation passed third reading after the upper legislative chamber considered clauses of the bill.

While leading the debate on it, Shekarau said the legislation, when it becomes law, would provide healthcare to citizens.

“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 Organisation (ILO) and, particularly, contingencies arising therefrom,” he said.

“The proposed social security commission under this bill shall provide indigent Nigerian citizens with comprehensive preventive and/or curative medicare from sicknesses resulting from any morbid condition of whatever cause.

“Specifically, the commission when established by the leave of this senate shall provide 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 breadwinner.”