The employees of the Southern States Energy Board shall be under such merit system as the Southern States Energy Board shall provide and, for the purposes of carrying out Article II(f), the Southern States Energy Board and its employees shall be considered a state agency. The Employees' Retirement System of Georgia is authorized to contract with the Southern States Energy Board in order to further or facilitate the activities of the Southern States Energy Board pursuant to Article II(f) of the compact. No such contract shall take effect prior to its approval by the Governor.