Following the controversy whipped up by the proposal of lifetime pension and immunity for the principal officers of the senate, the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) has said the principal officers of the senate are only due for severance packages upon the successful completion of their tenures.

RMAFC head of media, Ibrahim Mohammed, on Wednesday, said that in the laws which the commissions acted by, no provision was made for pension for the principal officers of the national assembly or any lawmaker.

The RMAFC is constitutionally responsible for the determination of the remuneration packages of lawmakers, political officers and the judiciary across the country.

Reacting to proposal of life pension for the presiding officers of the Assembly, Mohammed said, “They are entitled to only severance allowance at the end of their tenure and the severance allowance is 300 per cent of their annual basic salaries.”

Mohammed revealed that even though the law allows the commission to determine the payment packages of political office holders, it does not empower it to make arrangements for pension for both lawmakers and members of the executive arm of government.

“The issue of pension for the President, vice president, governors and their deputies is strictly a constitutional matter. The RMAFC has never recommended pension for them as it is not within its purview.”

“The pension for Mr. President and the vice president as provided in Section (84)(5) of the 1999 Constitution states, ‘Any person who has held office as President or vice president shall be entitled to pension for life at a rate equivalent to the annual salary of the incumbent president or vice president; provided that such a person was not removed from office by the process of impeachment or for breach of any provisions of this Constitution, while any pension granted by virtue of subsection (5) of this section shall be a charge upon the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Federation.”

“In the same vein, Section (124) (5) stipulates that, ‘Provisions may be made by a law of a House of Assembly for the grant of a pension or gratuity to or in respect of a person who had held office as governor or deputy governor, and was not removed from office as a result of impeachment; and any pension granted by virtue of any provisions made in pursuance of this subsection shall be a charge upon the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the state.”

“Therefore, it is crystal clear that the commission is not constitutionally empowered to delve into matters of pension for political, public and judicial office holders.”

According to the information on RMAFC website, President of the Senate is entitled to a severance allowance of N7,452,727.50; the Deputy Senate President is entitled to N6,927,500,25; while the Speaker of the House of Representatives is entitled to N7,431,330 upon completion of their tenures.

Adebayo Emuleomo