The National Assembly has rejected the constitutional bill that seeks to provide life pension on its presiding officers.
Officers included in this bill include the Senate President, Speaker and their Deputies.
The bill entitled ‘Bill for an Act to Alter the Provisions of the Constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, 1999 to Provide Pension for Presiding Officers of the National Assembly and for Related Matters,’ failed to get the required 240 votes as provided in the 1999 constitution as amended.
Using the electronic system, 88 senators registered for voting; while 193 lawmakers did not vote in support of the bill, 162 lawmakers voted in favour.
The senate president, Ahmed Lawan, while announcing the result said the rejection of the legislation is an indication that the federal lawmakers are not working to favour themselves.
“It is a good message to our country that we don’t do things for ourselves,” he said.
Meanwhile, the Senate also passed the Bill granting full autonomy to the local government and council areas in Nigeria.
