Ekiti state government has said it would begin the process of regulating the activities and operations of commercial motorcyclist popularly called Okada in the state.
The state commissioner for Information, Taiwo Olatunbosun in a statement on Tuesday said the said the decision was taken during the State Executive Meeting presided over by the state governor, Biodun Oyebanji.
He revealed that the council agreed that a bill ‘ Ekiti State Commercial Motorcycle Operators Regulatory Bill, 2024’ would be sent to the State House of Assembly for legislative backing to the process.
The commissioner explained that the government was determined through the bill when passed into law would among others help in getting the data and information of the motorcyclists, regulate their hours of operations and others.
Olatunbosun said, ” The proposed law is to regulate the operations of Commercial Motorcycle Operators in the State through effective implementation of the following:
provide for mandatory data capturing of all private and commercial motorcycle operators in Ekiti State;regulate the number of working hours of commercial motorcycle operators in Ekiti State;provide for mandatory branding of all commercial motorcycles in the State in the colour and design that may be prescribed by the State Government; and prescribe penalties for offences committed under the law.”
He added that the council also approved an executive bill tagged, ‘ Ekiti State Pension Reform Law (First Amendment) Bill, 2024’ which he said would among other things help in migrating civil servants above five years in service to the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS).
According to him, ” The approval is to amend the State Pension Reform Law, 2022 to expand the scope of the Contributory Pension Scheme in the State as follows:
“Migrate employees with over five years of service, currently under the Defined Benefit Scheme to the Contributory Pension Scheme (CPS) to gradually reduce and eventually eradicate the gratuity liability and burden on the State Government
“Give power to a Pension Fund Administrator under the Law to the apply a percentage of the Pension Assets in the Retirement Savings Account towards payment of Equity contribution for payment of Residential Mortgage in favour of any willing or interested employee
“Empower the Ekiti State Pension Commission to retrieve and refund wrongful retirement savings and accrued interest made in favour of any employee in active service who is exempted from the Contributory Pension Scheme, back to the coffers of the State Government.”
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