Life Pension for Lawmakers - Labour Hails Jonathan Refusal

By Sylvester Enoghase

Lagos — Organised Labour under the platform of Association of Senior Civil Servants of Nigeria (ASCSN) has commended President Goodluck Jonathan for refusing to sign a Constitution Amendment designed by the National Assembly to grant certain categories of legislators' pension for life. The Union regretted that in spite of popular opposition to whopping salaries and allowances approved by the lawmakers for themselves, they were still bent on granting their Principal Officers generous pension for life, a scenario that is going to be a heavy burden on the treasury. In a press statement issued in Lagos yesterday and signed by its National President, Comrade. The association's National President, Comrade Boboi Bala Kaigama, who made the declarations to newsmen in Lagos on Wednesday equally urged the President-elect, Major-General Muhammadu Buhari, to distance himself from the Constitutional Amendments if he mounts the saddle unless those self-serving provisions by the lawmakers were deleted. He said; "It is indeed worrisome that the National Assembly could approve pension for life for the Senate President, Deputy Senate President, the Speaker of the House of Representatives and his Deputy, the Speaker and Deputy Speaker of each of the 36 State Houses of Assembly for serving 4 and 8 years on the average"."You can imagine the humongous sums of money that would be siphoned monthly through this ill-advised pension for life for the Principal Officers of the legislatures in Abuja and the 36 States of the Federation," he added
According to the Kaigama, who doubles as the President of Trade Union Congress (TUC), under the current pension law, Public Servants who serve the country for 35 years or attain the age of 60 years are retired without being paid any gratuity while the pension that is paid is contributed by both the workers and employers."On retirement, these Public Service employees are paid 50% of their entitlements while the other half is spread over the years", he said."Yet, Nigerian politicians who serve the nation for four or eight years on the average want to pay themselves pension for life," the Union regretted describing the plan as fraudulent", he added.
The labour leader pointed out that in rejecting the proposal for life pension for the Principal Officers of the legislatures, the Presidency lamented that the National Assembly defied constitutional procedures and resorted to the use of voice votes to pass such a fundamental Constitutional Amendment and added that it (the Presidency) would not be party to such illegality. He stressed that the Association is totally in support of the Presidency on this matter. He posited that such financial recklessness brought the economy to its knees and enjoined the President-elect to distance himself from the culture of impunity that has been the bane of the current political dispensation."Where in the world do politicians approve life pension for themselves after serving for four or eight years," he wondered.
He however urged the incoming Governors and State Houses of Assembly where such pension laws had been passed to repeal them because they offend good conscience and public morality

midolian:
For the first time ever, I commend GEJ too.

jimi4us:
i just have the feeling that so many people won't make heaven

jimi4us:
i just have the feeling that so many people won't make heaven

247notire:
U've been blinded all the while by the media propaganda against him, masterminded by Thief.nubu. GEJ with all his failings remains the best GCFR Nigeria has ever had. Quote me anywhere!

midolian:
oh pls shut it! GEJ is just back to his senses after a resounding defeat. EOD

247notire:
U've been blinded all the while by the media propaganda against him, masterminded by Thief.nubu. GEJ with all his failings remains the best GCFR Nigeria has ever had. Quote me anywhere!

247notire:
U've been blinded all the while by the media propaganda against him, masterminded by Thief.nubu. GEJ with all his failings remains the best GCFR Nigeria has ever had. Quote me anywhere!

maryjames9:
He has been a Sissy and puppet all these years. A man without balls who couldnt tame his wife from using power recklessly. He has been a failed Leader until Buhari was declared winner of presidential election. It was like a movie acted by Tony Umez, Genevieve and Tonto Dikeh when Poko a friend of Genevieve make her mad, married Tony Umez,Genevieve's husband. After 20 years of being under Poko's love spell, Tony Umez suddenly came to his senses and discovered the havock he has caused but this time around unlike in Nollywood, Nigeria has kicked Mr Jonathan out of power. It would take Buhari sometime to begin to correct the damage Jonathan has done to our security,unity,economy,power. He has just woken up from 6 years of self,Patience,FFK,Alison Maduekwe,NOI,Boko Haram,Stella-induced Slumber. Jonathan doesnt deserve to lead a country like Nigeria, may be SS and SE or a Classroom and even at that,he is inherently an ungifted leader

Nutase:
payback time


@dearestsewa are you kulyie