Beyond The NASS Demands

Recent demands by members of the National
Assembly have raised anger and curses across the country in ways that should worry the leaders of the day. While the legitimacy of those demands continues to agitate the minds of some Nigerians, the consequence is hardly considered.
According to reports, the Senate was working on life pension for its members, while the House of Representatives was working on granting themselves and members of the Houses of Assembly across the nation, the now infamous immunity from criminal prosecution. On both counts, Nigerians are angry.
In fairness to them, the bills may not have been passed because some of the members themselves are opposed to the issues which tend to be self-serving. Some of the lawmakers also tend to agree with suggestions that the demands were ill-timed and inconsiderate of the realities of the economy.
The Tide thinks that the National Assembly that is quick to copy everything and anything from the United States of America, should not look at the issues that serve their interest only, but be truly holistic. They need to put side by side the differences in the two economies and fashion out what would work in Nigeria.
It is on record that even in the United States, the implementation of pension for congressmen was heavily opposed. Subsequently, their pension was carefully systemised to take cognisance of the age and number of years served by the lawmaker. The discipline in the computation of the pension in Nigeria may not be reliable.
On the other hand, the demand for immunity from criminal prosecution is what is suspect. Everywhere in the world, lawmakers enjoy legislative immunity that protects them from actions on the floor of the House. But to ask for another type of immunity presupposes the intention to be otherwise lawless.
We note with disgust how some members of the political class see only themselves and their interest. For some years now, the legislature alone consumed a quarter of the nation’s budget. To add another catalogue of demands now, cannot make anyone happy. Indeed, asking for life pension when the contributory pension does not cover life is another issue.
It is sad that in a country where public servants work for 35 years, earning slave wage, its leaders that are unable to guarantee their pension obligations, would be more interested in providing for themselves. Even more worrisome is the fact that only the furniture allowance of one lawmakers covers the total emolument of an average public servant for years. And that is only one out of a long list of allowances.
It is on record that lawmakers in Nigeria are the highest paid in the world, while the Nigerian worker is second to the least paid in the world. This contrast if further widened may not be in the interest of the country. While the lawmakers are not the only ones in the service of the nation, this idea of servicing them with everything is unacceptable.
But the danger is what the development is capable of creating in the polity. With the emphasis on reward for political office holders, which often requires minimum qualification, politics will soon become a game for fortune seekers only, instead of those with proven and respectable pedigree that seek to serve.
Indeed, not only would this make politics almost a do or die affair, it will generally destroy the quest by individuals to become accomplished professionals and renowned industrialists and scientists, whose activities grow the economy and reward hardwork.
The Tide understands the importance of pension in ensuring financial stability for citizens, but wonders how some of the lawmakers who are already enjoying rich pension either as former governors or retired executives would clamour for more in a land where the poverty level is simply scandalous.
If anything, we want pension for all Nigerians, but under the prevailing contributory pension scheme, how much would a lawmaker that serves four years contribute to qualify for life pension, or is Nigeria going to treat them differently. The point is, let the due practice of politics not frustrate the productive sectors of the economy.