Speaker, Lagos State House of Assembly, Hon. Adeyemi Ikuforiji
The Lagos State House of Assembly is
planning to introduce a bill seeking to guarantee lifetime allowances
for the speaker and deputy speaker.
However, in a swift reaction, the Speaker, Mr. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, described the news as a lie cooked up by fifth columnists.
The bill, it was learnt, proposes to
grant both the speaker and the deputy, pensions that amount to 100 per
cent of their annual basic salary for life, after their tenure expires.
The bill known as the Public Office
Holder (Payment of Pension) Law 2007 (Amendment) Law 2015, also proposes
additional benefits such as a free house anywhere in Lagos State and a
free vehicle.
The bill seeks to ensure that the two
officials continue to enjoy some of the benefits of office like the
governor and the deputy governor.
Our correspondent learnt that the bill
was inspired by the federal law which also ensures lifetime allowances
for the speaker of the House of Representatives and his deputy as well
as the Senate President and the deputy.
The proposed Lagos law states, “Any
person duly elected as a public office holder shall upon the successful
completion of his term be entitled to a grant of pension for life by the
state. This is provided that such a person shall not be entitled to a
grant of pension under this law if he was removed from office by the
process of impeachment or for breach of any provision of the
constitution.’’
A reliable source, however, told our correspondent that the proposed law may not be debated until after the elections.
When contacted, however, the spokesperson
for the Speaker, Mr. Rotimi Adebayo, described the news as the
handiwork of detractors.
Adebayo said the documents showing the details of the purported bill were fake.
“There is no truth about that news. I read it online and it is just the handiwork of fifth columnists,” he said.
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