Members of the Senate, at a recent two-day retreat, recommended life pension and immunity from prosecution for their presiding officers. They want the Senate President, Deputy Senate President, Speaker of the House of Representatives and Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives to enjoy life pension and immunity from prosecution, since the leaderships of the Executive arm of government and the Judiciary enjoy the same.
Deputy President of the Senate, Sen. Ike Ekweremadu, championed the proposal for life pension for the principal officers. He was supported by many, but a handful of other senators opposed the idea. Sen. Ekweremadu, who is also Chairman, Senate Adhoc Committee on the Review of the 1999 Constitution, which organised the retreat, said the benefits being sought have nothing to do with an individual. According to him, this issue is “about the institution. Let us not politicize it.” He argued further that “nobody elected the Chief Justice of Nigeria (CJN), but he enjoys life pension. But, if we cheapen our own institution, so be it. Let us not make this a personal thing”.
On immunity for the principal officers, 21 lawmakers reportedly voted for it, while 15 voted against it. Those in favour anchored their argument on the need to guard the principal officers from any form of distraction while discharging their duties.
Altogether, we find the reasons advanced by the majority of the senators for life pension and immunity for the presiding officers self-serving, short-sighted and frivolous. The proposal is untenable and immoral. It is disheartening that a lot of senators in the 8th Assembly have continued to pursue narrow, selfish interests at the detriment of the collective interest of the country and its citizens.
It is sad that at this time of serious socio-economic problems that require foresightedness, unparalleled patriotism and sincerity of purpose from our lawmakers to enact laws that will advance the cause of democracy and solve our manifold problems, the elected officials are more concerned about their personal benefits and privileges.
The demand for life pension for National Assembly leaders, on top of their hefty salaries and allowances, is outrageous. It is unacceptable for legislators who may have been in the National Assembly for only four years, and are required to sit only for a minimum of 181 days in a year, to request for life pension.
To compare the life pension for the CJN, a career judicial officer who may have spent up to 35 years on the bench and may have attained the mandatory retirement age, with a Senate President who may have only sat in the Senate for four years, is illogical. It misses the point completely. It is unfortunate that lawmakers could politicize the office of the CJN and describe its occupant as an “unelected” public official.
We can also understand the demand of some senators for immunity from prosecution, not only for their presiding officers, but for all lawmakers. Many of them are currently enmeshed in one form of graft or criminal conduct or the other, and it is the immunity they are demanding that can give them an escape route.
Our position is that they answer to their charges and stop this endless quest to evade prosecution. Our position is that no public office holder who commits any civil or criminal offence should be allowed to hide under the cover of immunity clause in the constitution to dodge prosecution. To grant such a sweeping privilege to public office holders will amount to an open invitation to criminality by these officers. Good governance will not be served through freedom from prosecution for public officers.
We commend the senators who were courageous enough to speak up against life pension and immunity for the principal officers of the National Assembly. They have chosen the path of honour on these matters that have profound consequences for our democracy.
It is regrettable that our federal lawmakers devoted precious time at their retreat to discuss life pension and immunity for themselves at a time when there are critical issues of state that should have engaged their attention.
Our lawmakers should stop their endless pursuit of their interests and do the job for which they were elected — making laws for good governance and the welfare of all Nigerians. They should bear in mind that as representatives of the people, their positions are held in trust for the people. They should think more about the people and their best interests than their own personal whims and caprices.