Ibadan –  Prof. Osisioma Nwolise, Acting Head of the Political Science Department of the University of Ibadan, has suggested the death penalty for politicians and other public officers who embezzled N10 million and above.

Nwolise made the suggestion in Ibadan in a paper entitled “Public Expectations from Parliamentarians,” he delivered at the inauguration of Committees of the 7th Assembly of the Oyo State House of Assembly.

He added that politicians and public officials who stole between one million naira and five million naira should be sentenced to 10 years imprisonment with hard labour, while those who embezzled between five million naira and N10 million should be given life jail.

“Armed robbers who stole N10, 000 are being executed, why not politicians and other public officials. If they cannot be executed like the robbers, then that is injustice.“

The lecturer urged parliamentarians to run from the `monster` called corruption, adding that it was “one of the destroyers of leaders.“

On the proposed removal of petroleum subsidy by the Federal Government, Nwolise said it was not part of President Jonathan’s manifesto during his campaign tour of the nation.

“President Jonathan must tell Nigerians what he will use the money realised for. Removal of the subsidy is bad, Nigerians are really suffering.“

A former member of the House of Representatives, Dr Wale Okediran, in his paper entitled “House Committees as the Engine Room of Parliaments, “ advised that members of the committees should be creative.

Okediran said this was imperative because bills begin and end their lives in committees, whether they were passed into laws or not.

Inaugurating the 23 committees, the Speaker of the House, Alhaja Monsurat Sunmonu, said that members did not lobby for positions.

“My members have not come to me to lobby for committee positions. I have studied them and I know how they can perform.“

Sunmonu urged the executive and the judicial arms of government to continue to cooperate with the House. (NAN)