Nigerians outraged over lawmakers' 'self-serving' plans

By Rafiu Ajakaye

LAGOS, Nigeria (AA) - Nigerians reacted angrily Sunday to plans by lawmakers to give their presiding officers a pension for life and immunity from prosecution.

The proposals, which have been approved as part of a constitutional review, were criticized as “self-serving” and come as senior National Assembly figures face trial for forgery and corruption.

“It’s a massive let-down for those elected to make laws for the peace, order and good governance of the country to prioritize their own personal interests over and above those of millions of Nigerians who continue to suffer the effects of high-level official corruption,” Adetokunbo Mumuni, executive director of the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project, said in a statement Sunday.

He added: “Nigerians will reject any self-serving attempt by the senators and representatives to tear up section 308 of the 1999 constitution to grant their leaders immunity from prosecution for corruption and money laundering.”

Thousands of other Nigerians flocked to social media to voice their outrage over Saturday night’s decision, which will apply to senior officials in the Senate and House of Representatives.

Mumuni said his group would argue against the proposals in court.

The scheme came ahead of Monday’s anticipated criminal trial of Senate President Bukola Saraki, his deputy Ike Ekweremadu and others over allegations they forged parliamentary rules.

Saraki, a former governor, also faces a 17-count corruption trial over claims of false assets declarations and illegally operating offshore bank accounts.

Auwal Musa Rafsanjani, executive director of the Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre, told Anadolu Agency that similar proposals had been rejected by Nigerians in the past.

“The proposals will not fly,” he said. “I don’t expect the lawmakers to go this route again, seeing that Nigerians are against such self-serving and undesirable proposals. They have not been elected to confer undue advantage on themselves.”