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The Lagos State House of Assembly is planning to introduce a bill seeking to guarantee lifetime allowances for the speaker and deputy speaker.
However, in a swift reaction, the Speaker, Mr. Adeyemi Ikuforiji, described the news as a lie cooked up by fifth columnists.
The bill, it was learnt, proposes to grant both the speaker and the deputy, pensions that amount to 100 per cent of their annual basic salary for life, after their tenure expires.
The bill known as the Public Office Holder (Payment of Pension) Law 2007 (Amendment) Law 2015, also proposes additional benefits such as a free house anywhere in Lagos State and a free vehicle.
The bill seeks to ensure that the two officials continue to enjoy some of the benefits of office like the governor and the deputy governor.
Our correspondent learnt that the bill was inspired by the federal law which also ensures lifetime allowances for the speaker of the House of Representatives and his deputy as well as the Senate President and the deputy.
The proposed Lagos law states, “Any person duly elected as a public office holder shall upon the successful completion of his term be entitled to a grant of pension for life by the state. This is provided that such a person shall not be entitled to a grant of pension under this law if he was removed from office by the process of impeachment or for breach of any provision of the constitution.’’
A reliable source, however, told our correspondent that the proposed law may not be debated until after the elections.
When contacted, however, the spokesperson for the Speaker, Mr. Rotimi Adebayo, described the news as the handiwork of detractors.
Adebayo said the documents showing the details of the purported bill were fake.
“There is no truth about that news. I read it online and it is just the handiwork of fifth columnists,” he said.
