SERAP knocks NASS over life pension, immunity for oficers

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The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has criticised moves by some senators to grant officers of the National Assembly immunity and life pension.

SERAP made this known in a statement signed by its Executive Director, Mr Adetokunbo Mumuni, a copy of which was obtained by the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos on Monday.

NAN reports that on June 18 the proposal was made at a two-day retreat on Constitution Review entitled, “Towards Ensuring Governance Accountability in Nigerian Federalism’’, organised by the Senate Ad- Hoc Committee on Constitution Review in Lagos.

The proposal, among others, seeks to amend the constitution and grant presiding officers such as the Senate President, his deputy, Speaker of the House of Representatives and his deputy, life pension and immunity.

The lawmakers argued that the Executive and the Judiciary enjoy life pension and immunity.

SERAP called on Dr Bukola Saraki, the Senate President and Mr Yakubu Dogara, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, to show leadership and refocus their law-making functions to rid the country of impunity for corruption and not to embrace.

“Granting senators and representatives immunity and life pensions will neither enhance governance, accountability nor contribute to the betterment of Nigerians.

“Nigerians will reject any self-serving attempt by the senators and the representatives to `tear up’ Section 308 of the 1999 constitution to grant their leaders immunity from prosecution for corruption and money laundering.

“SERAP is worried that the proposal for life pensions is coming from some ex-governors in the National Assembly that continue to enjoy ‘pensions’ for serving as governors for eight years.

“This is gross injustice and double jeopardy for millions of Nigerian pensioners who continue to be denied the fruit of their labour in old age,” it said.

The group said it would employ all legal avenues to compel the senators to drop the idea forthwith. (NAN)

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