The Nigerian Senate on Thursday approved special remunerations and allowances as retirement benefits for former leaders. But, it warned that ex-leaders who snatched power through unconstitutional means will not benefit from the new package.
Handing down the warning while approving the new packages, the president of the Upper Legislative Chamber, Senator David Mark, said ‘this is to discourage those wishing to get into power through unconstitutional means.
“The only way recognized by the constitution is through the ballot box and not through the barrel of the gun.’
During the debate, senators argued that former military heads of state cannot be part of the remuneration package because they came to power through means that breached Section 1(1) of the 1999 Constitution.
The bill provides for the remuneration of all former Presidents, Vice Presidents, Senate Presidents, Deputy Senate Presidents, Speakers of the House of Representatives, their Deputies, and Chief Justices of the Federation.
It also stipulated that ‘Members of the families of deceased former Presidents and Vice Presidents shall be entitled to annual payments as shall be recommende d by the Revenue Mobilization, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) and approved by the National Assembly.
Senator Olorunimbe Mamora (AC, Lagos State) said including ex-military rulers in the package would amount to encouraging the truncation of democracy.