OBJ, IBB, Abubakar, others may lose life benefits

FORMER presidents of the country and military heads of state may  lose  the life benefits approved last year, by the Senate for them, their wives and children.

On the list also are Senate presidents, their deputies, speaker of the House of Representatives, their deputies and chief justices.

The Senate had, last year, through the passage of  a bill for an Act to provide remunerations for former presidents, heads of the federal legislative houses and chief justices of the federation, approved the benefits.

The bill stipulated that members of the families of the deceased former presidents and vice-presidents would be entitled to annual payments, as shall be recommended by the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) and approved by the National Assembly and in manner as shall also be prescribed by the National Assembly. 

But, on Wednesday, the Senate Committee on Federal Character and Inter-Governmental Affairs declined to lobby for funds for them in the 2011 budget.

The  chairman  of the committee,  Senator Smart Adeyemi,  told  officers from the Office of the Secretary  to the Government of the Federation (SGF), who were in the National Assembly to defend their 2011 budget, that he could not defend the request.

Senator Adeyemi’s  refusal  was hinged on the fact that past presidents did not deserve that treatment, because they were comfortable, while he  insisted that they had “mismanaged Nigeria.”

According to him, “my conscience will not allow me to champion it. The past leaders  should sacrifice the perk for the development and employment which they failed to provide during their reigns.

“Tell them to sacrifice. The hospitals have no drugs, the roads are bad, there is no electricity and most graduates are unemployed.”

The Permanent  Secretary in the office of the SGF, Mr  Taiye Haruna, who represented the Head of  Service, said former presidents were to be provided with a five-bedroom duplex within Nigeria; allowance for their staff, and three vehicle to be replaced every three years.

He added  that the former  presidents are also to enjoy free medical treatment abroad and a luxurious treat whenever they are in Abuja.

But Smart Adeyemi  disclosed  that “In a situation where there are a lot of unemployed graduates roaming the streets and threatening a revolution, rather than give this money to them, we should use it to generate employments.”.

Posted: at 17-02-2011 12:54 PM (14 years ago) | Gistmaniac

For God sake this is another form of corruption
When will it end? These guys you want to lavish all
the benefits on earth are stinkingly rich, thanks to
Nigerian treasury. Next benefit  senate would
propose would include aprivate jets, meanwhile
former presidents and head of state have one or two
(bought with oil money) Do these law makers know exactly what they
are doing. I suppose they must impress these guys
so that when it is thier turn any opposition should be
crushed.
For God's sake this money must be used wisely
Nigeria is one the poorest country in the world with
 90% of the population living below poverty line
and yet yearly oil revenue is in trillions. Can't you see?

Posted: at 18-02-2011 01:00 AM (14 years ago) | Upcoming

i fully support this man too. we wish to see more of his likes in governance.

Posted: at 23-02-2011 07:51 PM (14 years ago) | Gistmaniac

I am in full support. The senator is a man of integrity. What have those thieving past heads of state done for Nigeria to merit such gratutious benefits? They will never be able to spend the loot they stashed away, so what is the point of giving them more? Nigeria is one big 'Animal Farm' where the pigs are more equal than anyone else. What a sorry way to rule this great country!

Posted: at 27-02-2011 03:12 AM (14 years ago) | Gistmaniac

Given the examples set by Egypt and Tunisia, I don't think we need to wait on the lord to deal with our thieving and corrupt leaders.

Posted: at 6-03-2011 06:55 PM (14 years ago) | Gistmaniac

k

Posted: at 10-03-2011 08:37 PM (14 years ago) | Hero

For christ sake , i hope our so call rulers or chop and quench rulers shouldn't blame any body if any early revolution come so soon b/c a hungry person is ready do any thing for a living, imagine those that plunder the whole NATION economy to a point of no return with billions of dollar in their closet can still again earn another life salary , what a shame!!!!!!!!!! to them all 

Posted: at 21-02-2012 09:17 PM (13 years ago) | Newbie