Speaker Explains Public Office Holders Bill

The Speaker, Rivers State House of Assembly, Rt Hon. Otelemaba Amachree, says the aim of the Public Office Holder (Payment of  Pension) Bill, 2012 is to take care of elected officers after the expiration of their tenure.

Rt Hon Amachree, who stated this recently at  the public hearing for the Bill in the State Assembly said the Bill, when passed into law, would cater for governors and deputy governors provided they were not impeached before the expiration of their tenure.

The bill, among others, is seeking to ensure that whether or not a governor continues in office, the family and retinue of staff do not lack anything economically.

In his submission, the Rivers State Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Gogo Charles said the Bill is to ensure that those who serve in government did not leave in tears. But a faction of the Action Congress of  Nigeria (CAN) has criticised the bill and enjoined the State House of Assembly not to contemplate on it.

The spokesman of the faction of the ACN, Mr Jerry Needam, also called on Rivers people to condemnthe bill, saying that it is “capable” of provoking civil unrest.