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Members of the Plateau State House of Assembly and the opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP) are at loggerheads over a proposed bill seeking to provide pensions and retirement benefits for former speakers, deputy speakers, principal officers and members of the Assembly.
The PDP described the bill as ill-timed, insensitive and self-serving.
The proposed legislation, which has passed second reading, was sponsored by the member representing Rukuba-Irigwe State Constituency, Eli Ankala.
The bill also seeks to establish the Plateau State House of Assembly Pension Board to oversee the administration of pensions and retirement benefits for former lawmakers.
The Speaker of the Assembly, Daniel Naanlong, presided over the second reading of the bill during plenary on Tuesday.
Ankala, who led the debate, said the proposed pension board would be responsible for administering pension matters, maintaining comprehensive records of beneficiaries and ensuring transparency in the management of retirement benefits.
According to him, the legislation is intended to establish a structured and sustainable pension system for former legislators while eliminating ghost pensioners through proper documentation, effective data management and regular verification exercises.
He said the proposed law would also provide a legal framework for pension administration, improve record-keeping and promote prudent management of public resources.
“The establishment of the Pension Board will strengthen pension administration through proper documentation of beneficiaries, effective data management and regular verification to prevent irregularities.
“The bill is designed to ensure that eligible former lawmakers receive their retirement benefits in an orderly, transparent and accountable manner while promoting prudent management of public resources,” Ankala said.
The House also passed for second reading another bill seeking to establish the Plateau State House of Assembly Service Pension Board and other related matters.
However, the PDP, in a statement issued on Wednesday by the party’s State Publicity Secretary, Choji Felix Dalyop, said the bill was contrary to public interest.
The party described the legislation as ill-timed, considering the security and economic challenges facing the state.
“This bill is reckless, insensitive and a gross abuse of public trust, and designed to create lifetime benefits for lawmakers at the expense of the people.
“At a time when the state is still battling insecurity and the urgent need to recover from inherited economic deficits, such a move can only be described as an act of extreme greed and wickedness,” the statement said.
Dalyop said the bill, if passed into law, would create a dangerous precedent by turning public office into “an avenue for lifetime private enrichment rather than a platform for selfless public service.”
While calling on members of the Assembly to immediately withdraw the bill, the party urged civil society organisations, labour unions and other advocacy groups to mobilise citizens against what it described as legislative overreach.
