Why Dickson Rejected Controversial Life Pension Bill For Bayelsa Lawmakers

The Bayelsa State Commissioner for Information, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, has explained why Governor Seriake Dickson declined assent to the controversial life pension bill for the state’s lawmakers.

The bill which generated widespread condemnation had proposed a monthly pension of N100,000 for members of the house while the Speaker and Deputy Speaker were to be entitled to N500,000 and N200,000, respectively.

In a statement, the state Commissioner for Information, Daniel Iworiso-Markson, said that the Governor has conveyed the decision to withhold assent to the Bill in a letter to the Speaker of the Bayelsa State House of Assembly on Monday.

He explained that the governor held consultations with the Assembly members in his country home of Toru-Orua, where he explained his reason for declining assent saying that the bill was inconsistent with Section 124 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.

According to him, the Governor has argued that the State Assembly lacked the powers to expand the categories of public servants who should be entitled to pension.

“The provisions of this Bill granting pension to members of Bayelsa State House of Assembly and the extension of same to former members of the Assembly and Bayelsa indigenes who served in the Old Rivers State House of Assembly, is inconsistent with Section 124 of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria as amended.

“I am not convinced about the legality of this Bill which seeks to expand the categories of persons entitled to pension.

“While I agree that the Assembly can adjust the quantum of pension payable to persons entitled to pension, I am not convinced that the House has powers to add to the categories of pensionable public officers.

“Evidently, there is no record of any other state in this country that has expanded the categories of pensionable public officers to include lawmakers.

“I do not agree that Bayelsa which is coping with all the myriads of issues and challenges, with our low Internally Generated Revenue base and the unpredictable oil economy, should be the first to initiate this,” Dickson said.

BIGPEN ONLINE would recalled that a group, Foundation For Human Rights and Anti-Corruption Crusaders (FOHURAC) had earlier called on the governor to decline assent to the bill, while calling on EFCC and ICPC to immediately arrest the Speaker of the Bayelsa state House of Assembly and other lawmakers over intent to commit huge financial crimes against the government and people of Bayelsa state.

This came few days after Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) had earlier pleaded with the governor not to sign the bill.