By Olasunkanmi Akoni

Outrage has trailed the Lagos House of Assembly’s move to amend the Public Office Holders’ Pension Law (2007) with a view to giving life pension to Speaker and the Deputy Speaker.

Obasa:Speaker Lagos State House of Assembly and Eshinloku:Lagos State Deputy Speaker

The bill titled: “A Bill for A Law to Amend the Payment of Pensions and Other Fringe Benefits to Public Office Holders in Lagos State and for Connected Purposes”, seeks to amend the state Public Office Holders’ Pension Law (2007) by accommodating the Assembly’s presiding officers.

The existing law only provides pensions for former governors and their deputies.

It would be recalled that initial attempts by lawmakers to give life pension to the Assembly’s Speakers and Deputies came up more than a year after severe public outcry.

The amended bill is to redefine public office holders to include the Speaker and Deputy Speaker. Currently, Section 6 of the existing law defines a public office holder as the Governor and Deputy Governor.

The proposed pension package for the Speaker and Deputy Speaker, according to the bill, also includes 10 per cent of their annual basic salary as entertainment allowance, free medical treatment for them as well as members of their immediate families, and one policeman each for the speaker and  deputy speaker.

By the Law, all the public office holders are entitled to domestic staff, cook, steward and gardener, who shall be pensionable.

Condemnation greets attempt

However, members of the public have condemned the bill while others expressed profound reservations.

Some notable politicians and partymen when contacted however declined making any comment, as they prefer keeping mum for the moment.

Mr. Ayodele Akele, the National Secretary, National Conscience Party, NCP, and a human rights activist, could not hide his disdain for the proposed bill, with a loud cry of foul.

“This is the height of criminality, this is the height of corruption, height of gross insensitivity, height of legalized looting and fraud.” Akele retorted.

He continued: “Can anybody believe this is happening under President Muhammadu Buhari’s administration that the legislature is trying to legalise illegal pension for self. If Buhari  has integrity he should fight back with his Anti-graft. This is coming when workers are not paid a minimum wage. We do not have government in this country. This is not excusable.

“This is an absolute mockery of war against corruption. How can a person that serves for eight years be paid life pension, while workers that served for 36 years are not paid. It’s a total abuse of office and a conspiracy against Lagosians.

“I know the proposed law will scale through, the lawmakers must have perfected their work and with or without public support the bill will see the light of the day. I blame Mr. President, he should make proclamation against legalised looting of public fund, it is highly condemnable, a very sad and unfortunate development at this time of recession. Nigerians should rise up against this nonsense before all other state follow suit.”

An activist, Mr. Yinka Odumakin, also described the move as insensitive, adding that it smacks of ultimate impunity in the midst of the present recession, while warning the lawmakers to “drop such an inconsiderate plan.”

Also Comrade Biodun Aremu of Joint Action Front (JAF) said that though the matter was still a subject of speculation, it is not unexpected.

He accused Nigerian politicians of being selfish, adding that the politicians do not vie for office to serve the public.

“Whatever they are doing is consistent with the general pattern of backwardness of our country. Our legislative arm is being used as a rubber stamp. The recent one that happened in Edo State is an example. It is important for the people to rise to the occasion because we cannot continue like this.”

Similarly, President of Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders (CACOL), Comrade Debo Adeniran, stated that he didn’t know the figure that the lawmakers were proposing for themselves, but that they must make the amendment with caution.

According to him , there could be some pension for all the lawmakers if they serve the state meritoriously, but CACOL kicks against outrageous pensions for government functionaries.

Before now, the former deputy governor of the state, Alhaja Sinatu Ojikutu, who served with the late ex-governor Otedola between 1991 and 1993, before the General Sanni Abacha military regime, sued the state government to court over the discriminatory pension law and won the case, but it was gathered that she is yet to be included in the pension package as it was gathered that the state government under former Governor Raji Fashola, who is now a beneficiary of the pension package, challenged her victory in court.

When contacted, Hon Tunde Braimoh, the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Strategy and Security, confirmed the move, saying, “It’s true.”

According to him, “It is true that we are proposing an amendment to the Public Office Holders’ Pension Law (2007), with a view to giving life pension to Speaker, Deputy Speaker.

“There is nothing wrong, if an arm of government is given independence and another arm is given same.

“The number of years will play a big role here. For example if a speaker spent one year and another spent four years it will not be the same provision. More importantly, government is trying to appreciate the service of public office holders.

“The whole essence of legislature is to act as check and balances on the executive arm. Therefore, it will be an aberration if what is good for the executive is not applicable for the legislature.

“It is not too bad to make such a law. What is accruable and available to executive should be accruable and be available to the legislature.”