The Senate on Wednesday voted against a Bill seeking to provide remuneration for former heads of states, Heads of Federal Legislative Houses and Chief Justices of the Federation.
The Bill was voted against after a strong opposition by senators, admits few nods for the Bill to scale second reading.
The Bill titled “Bill for an Act to Provide Remuneration for Former Presidents, Heads of Federal Legislative Houses and Chief Justices of the Federation and Other Ancillary Matters 2013’ was led by Senate Leader Victor Ndoma-Egba.
In his lead debate, Sen. Ndoma-Egba noted that the Bill attempts to create a welfare package for former democratically elected national leaders so they are catered for after leaving office.
This Bill has gone through the 4th, 5th, and 6th Senate but no President has signed it into law.
The Senate Leader further noted that it was appropriate to raise this Bill again as what currently exists is only a provision for the Executive Arm such as welfare for previous Head of States.
The Senate Leader explained that this act would preserve the dignity of the hardworking Public Servants as well as ensure that such welfare is not limited to the executive arm alone.
On her part, Sen. Aisha Alhassan who spoke in support of the Bill, noted that people who have served to ensure a stabilized Nigeria ought to be looked after they leave office. Senators Ayogu Eze and George Akume were among those who spoke in favour of the Bill.
However, Sen. Smart Adeyemi who pointed out the positive side of the Bill, advanced that military rulers should not benefit from this Bill.
He noted that such military rulers should not only apologize to Nigerians but they should not be allowed to participate in democracy by running for elected position, since they destroyed this very system.
Sen Adeyemi’s position was countered by some senators who stated that the argument of leaving the military aside is wrong as democracy was brought about by a military regime of General Abdulsalami Abubakar.
Other issues raised by senators who contributed to the debate are that the executive refused to ascent the bill into law on many previous occasions so they can shut out the legislature from the welfare packages.
Other Senators cautioned their colleagues to tread carefully noting that despite the fact that the Bill attempts to compensate, it could be abused too.
In the strong argument against the Bill, Sen. Thompson Sekibo tagged it ‘flawed’.
He posited that the components of the Bill make political positions too attractive and too lucrative which will result to more deaths and violence to occupy these positions.
He further added that it will also cause division in the two Chambers as more squabbles to occupy presiding officer positions will increase including several takeover attempts.
He added that executing this Act would overall increase the cost of running government.
Sen. Abubakar Yaradua who also opposed the bill tagged it a ‘Bad Bill’.
After strong opposition to the Bill the Senators voted against it thus it failed.