Former Heads of State who shot their way to power should not benefit from a retirement package being debated by the National Assembly, senators insisted yesterday.

Speaking during debate on general principles of a bill for an act to provide remuneration for former Presidents, Heads of State, Heads of Federal Legislative Houses and Chief Justices of the federation, majority of senators spoke against inclusion of former military rulers under the package.

Presenting his lead debate, Senate Leader Teslim Folarin said "The thrust of this bill is essential to amend Decree 32 of 1999 and ensure that only democratically elected former Presidents are entitled to benefit from the entitlements and benefits enumerated in the schedules to the bill.

The former military leaders are however members of the Council of State under the Third Schedule Part 1B (5) of the 1999 Constitution which reads, "The Council of State shall comprise the following personsa) the President, who shall be the Chairman; (b) the Vice-President, who shall be the Deputy Chairman; (c) all former Presidents of the Federation and all former Heads of the Government of the Federation; (d) all former Chief Justices of Nigeria; (e) the President of the Senate; (f) the Speaker of the House of Representatives; (g) all the Governors of the states of the Federation; and (h) the Attorney-General of the Federation."

But Section 84 of the same constitution left former military rulers out of the list of former leaders due for remuneration. The offices aforesaid are the offices of President, Vice-President, Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice of the Supreme Court, President of the Court of Appeal, Justice of the Court of Appeal, Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Judge of the Federal High Court, Chief Judge and Judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Chief Judge of a State, Judge of the High Court of a State, Grand Kadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, President and Judge of the Customary Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Grand Kadi and Kadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal of a State, President and Judge of the Customary Court of Appeal of a State, the Auditor-General for the Federation and the Chairmen and members of the following executive bodies, namely, the Code of Conduct Bureau, the Federal Civil Service Commission, the Independent National Electoral Commission, the National Judicial Council, the Federal Judicial Service Commission, the Judicial Service Committee of the Federal Capital Territory,"

The bill was passed by the 5th session of the National Assembly but was refused assent by former President Olusegun Obasanjo who also supported removal of former military Heads of State from the beneficiaries of the remuneration. It has now passed through second reading again and will soon be subjected to public hearing.

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http://allafrica.com/stories/200906080609.html

how can they be paid pension. that should be extra waste!

A military ruler that came into power with force and hold the nation at gun point, who later messed up and loot the money dont deserve no pension, so i so much agree with that.

They stole enough money not to desire of pensions. Moreover they still collect pensions as ex-military officers.

It has now passed through second reading again and will soon be subjected to public hearing.

time wasting, they make laws on behalf of the people, just drop it and do something else!

It would be so unwise to pass such a bill,cos ex military rulers dont deserve pensions.

sabaestate:

Former Heads of State who shot their way to power should not benefit from a retirement package being debated by the National Assembly, senators insisted yesterday.

Speaking during debate on general principles of a bill for an act to provide remuneration for former Presidents, Heads of State, Heads of Federal Legislative Houses and Chief Justices of the federation, majority of senators spoke against inclusion of former military rulers under the package.

Presenting his lead debate, Senate Leader Teslim Folarin said "The thrust of this bill is essential to amend Decree 32 of 1999 and ensure that only democratically elected former Presidents are entitled to benefit from the entitlements and benefits enumerated in the schedules to the bill.

The former military leaders are however members of the Council of State under the Third Schedule Part 1B (5) of the 1999 Constitution which reads, "The Council of State shall comprise the following personsa) the President, who shall be the Chairman; (b) the Vice-President, who shall be the Deputy Chairman; (c) all former Presidents of the Federation and all former Heads of the Government of the Federation; (d) all former Chief Justices of Nigeria; (e) the President of the Senate; (f) the Speaker of the House of Representatives; (g) all the Governors of the states of the Federation; and (h) the Attorney-General of the Federation."

But Section 84 of the same constitution left former military rulers out of the list of former leaders due for remuneration. The offices aforesaid are the offices of President, Vice-President, Chief Justice of Nigeria, Justice of the Supreme Court, President of the Court of Appeal, Justice of the Court of Appeal, Chief Judge of the Federal High Court, Judge of the Federal High Court, Chief Judge and Judge of the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Chief Judge of a State, Judge of the High Court of a State, Grand Kadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, President and Judge of the Customary Court of Appeal of the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja, Grand Kadi and Kadi of the Sharia Court of Appeal of a State, President and Judge of the Customary Court of Appeal of a State, the Auditor-General for the Federation and the Chairmen and members of the following executive bodies, namely, the Code of Conduct Bureau, the Federal Civil Service Commission, the Independent National Electoral Commission, the National Judicial Council, the Federal Judicial Service Commission, the Judicial Service Committee of the Federal Capital Territory,"

The bill was passed by the 5th session of the National Assembly but was refused assent by former President Olusegun Obasanjo who also supported removal of former military Heads of State from the beneficiaries of the remuneration. It has now passed through second reading again and will soon be subjected to public hearing.

FEEL FREE TO DROP YOUR COMMENT
ITS WORTH HEARING


http://allafrica.com/stories/200906080609.html

That means Yaradua doesn't get a pension too? I would support that.