Lagos Lawmakers Apprehensive Over Life After Service
By Eromosele Ebhomele
With just five months to the end of their four-year tenure, apprehension has gripped lawmakers at the Lagos State House of Assembly concerning how they would cope with life after service.
Most of them feel their job is a ‘thankless’ one. They have also lamented that they are not appreciated like those in the executive arm of government.
Although most of them have flagged off their campaigns for either a come back or to vie for seats at the National Assembly, they are scared that they may not be given the chance by their party, the Action Congress of Nigeria (ACN).
They are also scared about the number of aspirants vying for the seats in their various constituencies.
Some of the lawmakers who spoke with Lagos Bulletin at the inauguration of the Eko Legislative Forum at the Speaker’s official residence on Sunday in Lagos, said they are worried about their future, seeing some former lawmakers of the House now living in penury.
They are therefore doing everything possible to see that they are given some severance package at the end of their service to the state. This, they think, they can easily fall back on if eventually they are not given the ticket to re-contest for their seats.
Part of the move was the introduction of a pressure group comprising of the lawmakers by the Speaker at the event.
Majority Leader of the House, Taiwo Kolawole, explained that the lawmakers were worried about what may befall them if they do not return to the House for the next legislative assembly.
“I have seen three assemblies now and I have always been part of them. I have also seen the lives of the members who do not return to the House.
“Year in, year out, you would see that they are not taken care of in comparison with their contribution to the development of the state. Therefore, one needs to be apprehensive.
“One needs to start thinking of oneself. When you leave here, what becomes of you? There are so many of them who are now very poor.
“I was discussing with the Speaker recently about one the former lawmakers. When he was in the House, he was one of the flamboyant lawmakers and when he left, he owned a filling station. Now, all is history and the man is living in penury.
“Therefore, one needs to be apprehensive and start thinking of life after service. For example, I have spent the most beautiful part of my life for service to the state. I was asking somebody recently if he thinks I would go and dust my certificates and start looking for job after service.
“It would be very unfortunate for me if I say I would want to be a lecturer after my life as a lawmaker. I have lost that zeal. Therefore, I need to consider something that would make my life more meaningful when I leave here,†he explained, giving his support to the pressure group which he said would help the people to press for their needs.
For the Chairman, House Committee on Information, Iyiola Omisore, the bringing together of past lawmakers was meant to learn from their experience.
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