Constitutional Review: Legislators want Life Pension and Immunity While in Office

Nigerian legislators have asked for immunity and life pension for presiding officers of the National Assembly.


The legislator made this demand on Saturday at a two-day retreat on Constitution Review organised by the Senate Ad Hoc Committee on Constitution Review in Lagos tagged ‘Towards Ensuring Governance Accountability in Nigerian federalism.’

The Punch reported that the senators proposed that President of the Senate, Deputy President of Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives and Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives, should be entitled to life pension and immunity from criminal prosecution while in office.

The Deputy President of the Senate, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, who spoke in favour of the proposal for the pension, said that it was necessary for the presiding officers to enjoy such benefits.

“This has nothing to do with an individual. It is about the institution. Let us not politicise it. Nobody elected the Chief Justice of Nigeria but he enjoys pension. But if we cheapen our own institution, so be it. Let us not make this a personal thing.”


Sen. Stella Oduah (PDP-Anambra) also said if the leaders of the executive and judiciary enjoys immunity and pension, there was no reason why the leaders of the legislative arms of government should not enjoy such benefits.

She said, “The executive enjoy it. Let us stand by our leaders. They should enjoy this benefit. They act on behalf of us. They are equal to the executive and judiciary and should therefore enjoy the same benefit.”

Also, Sen. Ahmed Yerima (APC-Zamfara) said after being elected by all the lawmakers and their constituencies, lawmakers should enjoy pension.

“Governors, who spend just four years enjoy it, so presiding officers should enjoy it too,’’ he stated.
However, Leader of the Senate, Sen. Ali Ndume, spoke against the proposal.

According to him, the case of the state governors and their deputies is different as they are elected by the public.
“But we elect our principal officers, to me, I believe that the benefits of the Office of the Senate President and other principal officers are too much. They are just one among equals.

“I am against any excessive privileges given to the senate president or the speaker. All of us were elected. If we are doing anything, it should be for all members of the National Assembly,” Ndume said.

Also, the Senate Minority Leader, Sen. Godswill Akpabio, opposed the suggestion.
He said, “The governor of a state and the president cannot stay in office for more than two terms. But a senator can stay in office for 35 years.”
Similarly, Sen. Oluremi Tinubu of the APC, who represents Lagos-Central, stated that principal officers had had enough.

“Principal Officers drive fleets of cars and they have other entitlements. They should not earn extra money when they leave office.

“In the last (8th) assembly, we in the minority tried to raise our voice against it. You are first, second and third among equals. Some of us do not even have cars but principal officers have so many. I think we should drop that idea,” she said


On immunity clause for principal officers of the federal legislature, 21 lawmakers voted in its favour while 15 voted against it, NAN reports.

OJPals, what do you think? Sound off below!

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