SERAP Says Demand By Senators Asking For Immunity And Life Pension Is “Self-serving And Despicable”

Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has strongly condemned as “self-serving and despicable the demand by some senators on Saturday for immunity and life pension for presiding officers of the National Assembly after their tenure in office.”

SERAP’s statement followed the proposals by the senators at a two-day retreat on Constitution Review organised by the Senate Ad Hoc Committee on Constitution Review in Lagos on Saturday. Among others, the proposals want presiding officers, such as President of the Senate, Deputy President of Senate, Speaker of the House of Representatives and Deputy Speaker of House of Representatives to enjoy life pension and immunity, since the executive and judiciary are enjoying it.

But SERAP in a statement today by its executive director Adetokunbo Mumuni said, “The retreat by the senators and representative was titled ‘Towards Ensuring Governance Accountability in Nigerian federalism’ but their grand strategy is the calculated use of legislative powers to alter the 1999 constitution in their own favour so that they can enjoy life benefits at the expense of millions of economically and socially disadvantaged Nigerians who voted them into office.”

The statement reads in part: “SERAP calls on the Senate President Bukola Saraki and the Speaker of the House of Representatives Yakubu Dogara to show leadership and refocus the National Assembly to be able to perform their law-making functions in a manner that will rid the country of impunity for corruption and not embrace or tolerate it.”

“Granting senators and representatives immunity and life pensions would neither enhance governance accountability nor contribute to the betterment of Nigerians.”