NSSF midterm access bill hangs in balance as Speaker Oulanyah cancels all unfinished business from 10th parliament

The Speaker of parliament Jacob Oulanyah has guided that all business that had been shelved from the 10th parliament under former Speaker Rebecca Kadaga is considered lapsed and will not be handled by the 11th parliament.

Oulanyah’s ruling also affected bills passed by parliament and are yet to be assented to by President Yoweri Museveni and those he returned to parliament for reconsideration.

On Thursday, Oulanyah said any business that had not been completed by the 10^th parliament when its term ended will now be done afresh by the new parliament.

“Any member or indeed government who is desirous of having the business of the 10th Parliament that was not completed by the end of that Parliament should have that business reintroduced in the House and that business shall begin afresh,” Oulanyah said.

“Business of the 10th Parliament that remained incomplete lapsed when the term of the 10th Parliament came to an end.”

President Museveni last month directed the Minister for Gender, Labour and Social Development Betty Amongi to return the bill to parliament so as to make changes to it and return it to him for consent but the latest communication from the Speaker means the bill will be back to be debated afresh.

Oulanyah said that for bills that were passed by the 10th Parliament and are pending presidential assent, these should also be considered ‘collapsed’ and reintroduced in Parliament.

“If that bill is returned by the President in accordance with Article 91 of the constitution but outside the term of the Parliament that passed that bill, that bill is also considered business that lapsed in the 10th Parliament and should be considered as indicated above,” Oulanyah said.

The NSSF Bill 2020 allows contributors to NSSF who have clocked 45 or have saved for at least 10 years will now have access to 20% of their savings with NSSF

The Succession and Sexual Offences bills are some of the other bills that have been affected by the Speaker’s communication.

Oulanyah said that in case of any government bills that have been affected, such a bill should be published, reprinted and introduced in parliament in accordance with Rule 128 of Parliamentary procedures.

“For private members’ bills, the member should proceed under Rule 122.”