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{
    "id": 1569882,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1569882/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 94,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Hon. John Mbadi",
    "speaker_title": "The Cabinet Secretary for National Treasury and Economic Planning",
    "speaker": null,
    "content": " Thank you, Mr. Speaker, Sir. I will take three minutes to go through the response. I will not read it verbatim. On measures being implemented to address delays in pension processing and the transition to a digitized pension system, there are a number of steps we are taking for comprehensive review which include- (1) Timely submission of retirement notices: Employers are required to notify employees of retirement at least one year in advance and to submit pension claims to the Pension Department nine months before the official retirement age. (2) Verification and documentation: Pension payments are contingent on complete and accurate documentation from retirees and employers and complete submission of disputes and litigation. (3) Processing at the Pension Department: Once a complete pension claim is received, the department processes it within 90 days as stipulated in the National Treasury Citizens Service Delivery Charter. Then we have exchequer releases, which is also another challenge. Payment of pension gratuities depends on the availability of funds, which is influenced by national revenue inflows. Therefore, to improve efficiency, these are the measures that we have taken- (1) Deployment of pension officers to key Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs): We have made sure that key MDAs, like the Teachers Service Commission (TSC) and others have pension officers. For example, the National Treasury has deployed 18 pension officers to the TSC to expedite the verification and submission of the pension claims. (2) Strict enforcement of early submission policies: MDAs are mandated to submit pension claims nine months before an officer's retirement date. (3) System enhancements and technical support: The Pension management information system is undergoing significant upgrades to reduce manual interventions, improve efficiency and also enhance data security. (4) Review of the pension legal framework is also being undertaken to align with emerging needs and improve the sustainability and efficiency of pension payments. (5) The Cabinet has approved the National Retirement Benefits Policy, which was approved on 3rd November, 2023. This Policy aims to harmonize retirement benefits, improve governance and enhance sector growth. (6) Public awareness and sensitization is also ongoing with workshops being conducted and sensitization programmes on retirement. (7) Recruitment of additional pension officers to enhance processing capacity. The Treasury recruited additional pension officers in 2021, followed by six deputy directors in 2024, with specialized expertise in pension administration."
}