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Fri, Mar

Why I Rejected Bill Seeking Life Pension For Lawmakers – Gov. Dickson

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The Governor of Bayelsa State, Seriake Dickson on Monday explained why he decided to withhold assent from a Bill seeking life pension for members of the State House of Assembly.

 

NAN had earlier reported that the members of the Bayelsa House of Assembly had on April 24 passed a life pension bill proposing a monthly pension of N100,000 for members while the Speaker and Deputy Speaker would be entitled to N500,000 and N200,000, respectively.

 

The development attracted huge negative reactions across the country with some commentators describing the action as selfish.

 

Speaking on the development on Monday, the Bayelsa State Commissioner of Information, Mr. Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said the Governor had since conveyed the decision to withhold assent to the bill in a letter to the Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly. He further explained that the governor held consultations with the Assembly members in his country home of Toru-Orua, where he explained his reason for declining assent.

 

He quoted the Governor as saying

 

“The provisions of this Bill granting pension to members of Bayelsa State House of Assembly and the extension of same to former members of the Assembly and Bayelsa indigenes who served in the Old Rivers State House of Assembly, is inconsistent with Section 124 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.

 

“I am not convinced about the legality of this Bill, for which seeks to expand the categories of persons entitled to pension. While I agree that the Assembly can adjust the quantum of pension payable to persons entitled to pension, I am not convinced that the House has powers to add to the categories of pensionable public officers.

 

“Evidently, there is no record of any other state in this country that has expanded the categories of pensionable public officers to include lawmakers. I do not agree that Bayelsa which is coping with all the myriads of issues and challenges, with our low internally Generated Revenue base and the unpredictable oil economy, should be the first to initiate this,”

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