The Lagos State House of Assembly has said that there is nothing wrong if its Speaker, Honourable Adeyemi Ikuforiji, and his deputy, Honourable Kolawole Taiwo, are put on life pension.

Spokesman of the House, Honourable Segun Olulade, insisted in a telephone interview yesterday that the proposed amendment of the 1999 Constitution by the National Assembly supported such move.

He, however, denied knowledge of a bill to that effect, saying that “as you are aware, we are all busy with our campaigns at our constituencies. If there is any bill of such, I shall let you know.”

The report had indicated that the House had resolved to sponsor a pension bill tagged, “The Public Office Holder (Payment of Pension) Law 2007 (Amendment) Law 2015” that would guarantee 100 per cent of their annual basic salary for life, among others.

Olulade, who is the Chairman, Committee on Information, Communications, Strategy and Security, said there was nothing wrong in taking such a step since the amendment to the constitution by the National Assembly, which had been forwarded to all the 36 state Houses of Assembly and ratified, supported such.

He maintained that every worker should be entitled to pension that would sustain him till death.

While responding to a question on whether the state has the financial capability to provide such benefits, Olulade explained that “the state is financially buoyant to provide such benefits.”

According to the online media, the bill proposes to grant the two officials, who are members of the All Progressives Congress (APC), pensions that amount to 100 per cent of their annual basic salary for life, after their tenure as leaders in the state assembly expires.

The bill also proposes such additional benefits as a free house anywhere in Lagos State and a free vehicle paid for from state funds.

It was also reported that the bill stipulated that the state governor and deputy governor as well as their families would receive free medical treatment for life.

All designated members of the state leadership would have pensionable drivers for life as well, the online reported.

•Adapted from a Nigerian Tribune report. Photo shows Lagos Speaker Ikuforiji.

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