By; Amos Mathew, Kaduna.
Chairman Senate Committee on Foreign and Domestic Debts, Senator Shehu Sani has condemned in strong terms the proposal seeking life pension for National Assembly (NASS) leaders as being advocated by some legislators in the just inaugurated1999 constitution amendment.
Senator Sani made this disclosure when he paid a private visit to the residence of the reporter of Peoples Daily Newspaper Mr Femi Oyelola who was involved in an accident early this year with severe fractures.
He said it was necessary for him to make his position clear on the subject matter.
It would be recalled that the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu who is the Chairman, Senate Ad hoc committee on review of the 1999 constitution, alongside other Senators at the constitution review committee meeting held in Lagos, voted in favour of life Pension for NASS leaders.
Senator Sani who is also a member of the committee maintained that, “I am personally opposed to life pension for legislators, Governors or their deputies, or immunity for public office holders.”
He stressed further that there is no reason for public office holders to enjoy immunity, thereby making it impossible to be tried when they commit any offence, adding that such, makes room for impunity in most cases.
The Senator who represents Kaduna Central Senatorial district, however said he is not opposed to immunity for the President and his vice.
Senator Sani who was of the view that Nigerians as a whole needs social insurance, frowned at a situation where politicians use and dumped Journalists at will, adding that Journalists most often than not are spectators of other people’s prosperity.
While encouraging Mr Oyelola to be strong in his trying moment occasioned by the accident, the Senator who had earlier donated the sum of two hundred thousand naira to him while he was on admission at the Saint Gerald Catholic Hospital, also promised to offset the balance of all his hospital bills.
In addition, he also promised to give Mr Oyelola a monthly stipend until he is fully well and back on his feet and to active journalism practice.
Mr Oyelola in his response commended the Senator for standing by him. He prayed God to continue to lift him and prosper him in his political career and future endeavours.
