Rep Advocates Pension For Ex-Lawmakers

The member representing Apapa Federal Constituency in the House of Representatives, Babatunde Adewale, has disclosed that he is working on a bill that will ensure that lawmakers get pension and gratuity after serving as legislators.

Adewale, who made this disclosure at the weekend at the first stakeholders interactive session he organised for his constituent at the Mobil Pegasus Club, Apapa, said the bill, which is called the “National Assembly Pension and Gratuity Bill, 2012”, is before his colleagues in the lower chamber of the Nation Assembly.

Speaking on the importance of the bill, the lawmaker stated that if the bill is passed and former lawmakers are able to benefit from pension and gratuity just like the former Presidents and Vice Presidents, former governors and their deputies, it will terminate every act of corruption in the legislature.

According to him, “Lawmakers should also get pension and gratuity just like the executive arm of government. People are talking of corruption in the National Assembly; I believe that if this bill is passed into law and approved by the executive, corruption will die naturally in the legislature.

“If you see any legislator who is corrupt and trying to look for money by all means, it is because of the fear of what such person would fall back on when he is no more a legislator. We as legislators are seriously fighting to bring an end to corruption, despite the fact that some people are not serious about the fight against the scourge.

“If a legislator knows that he will have something to fall back on, he/she will perform his oversight functions properly. If this is in place, it will reduce corruption in that arm of government, and they will perform their duties diligently,” Adewale added.

The lawmaker also disclosed that a Bill for an Act to amend the Nigeria Social Insurance Trust Fund Act, CAP N88, Laws of the Federation, 2004, which he sponsored has passed the second reading on the floor of the House.

The bill according to him, if passed, will provide social security and protection to all eligible citizens of Nigeria who are ordinary residents in Nigeria whether employed both in the private or public sector, unemployed and aged without discrimination.

—Yisa Jamiu