Senators, reps shoot down pension bill for senate president, speaker

Majority of members of the national assembly have rejected a constitutional bill seeking to provide pension for presiding officers of the national assembly.

It is 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.’

It is the 16th out of the 68 constitutional bills the senate and house of representatives are voting on.

The presiding officers are the senate president and his deputy as well as the speaker and his deputy.

Using the electronic system, 88 senators registered but after voting, Senate President Ahmad Lawan jokingly refused to declare the tally.

Amid laughter, the senate president announced that the bill failed to pass.

Lawan said the rejection of the legislation is an indication that the federal lawmakers are not working to favour themselves.