Senate President Bukola Saraki
According to the Nigerian Independent, Senate President Bukola
Saraki has come under intense criticisms for the proposed life pension
facility for principal officers of the National Assembly.
Prof. Itse Sagay who is a Constitutional lawyer and Chairman of
the Presidential Advisory Committee on Anti- Corruption has voiced his
criticism of that move by the National Assembly which according to him
is totally unacceptable and reeks of insensitivity to the present
conditions of the polity.
Sagay emphasized on Saraki who enjoys pension by virtue of his
two-time tenure as the governor of Kwara state and is currently pursuing
another pension scheme as a lawmaker.
He described Saraki as baby who is not ready to be independent but wants to depend on state and federal government agencies for sustenance for life.
In his words:
“It is disturbing. I recently granted an interview where I stated that the senators basically are there just for themselves. They are there to promote their private and personal interests at the expense of the rest of the country. They don’t just give a hoot about what happens to Nigeria as long as they are promoting their selfish and egoistic interests. This recent action by the lawmakers has further confirmed that”.
“How can a man who has just become a Senate President and will stay there at the most for four years be demanding for pension? Already, (Bukola) Saraki is enjoying pension as a former governor of Kwara state. Now, he wants another pension from the federal government through the National Assembly”.
“So, he is turning himself into a baby who is going to be fed with feeding bottle full of milk by the federal government and then from his own state. So, forever he is like a little child that cannot stand on his two feet and has to be padded right, left and centre, sustained and maintained throughout his life by federal and state agencies”.
Sagay said that it was shocking for the lawmakers to make such demands with the current economic situation which had caused job losses and increased poverty in the country also advised President Muhammadu Buhari not to append his signature on the proposal if eventually passed by the lawmakers.
“ People should have some self-respect. Apart from the fact that it is totally immoral, unacceptable and insensitive because of the state of our economy, it is completely unjust. I think we should disregard it. If that bill is passed, the president of course should veto it and we move on. It is unthinkable and it shows that they have no respect for the people of this country”
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