TUC: IMMUNITY, LIFE PENSION FOR SENATORS IS UNFORTUNATE

“We also insist that those who violate the law no matter how highly placed should face the wrath of the law”, TUC said in a statement signed by Comrades Bobboi Kaigama and Simeso Amachree, President and Secretary of the TUC respectively, adding that it sometimes wonder if politicians are truly abreast with the groaning of the poor masses and the opinion of the international community about them.

“ Is it not laughable and ridiculous that if our lawmakers are now acquiring 108 Toyota Land Cruiser Jeeps for every member and increasing salaries/allowances they are talking about awarding contracts to themselves and cronies? Is it not unfortunate that while we are yet to recover from the shock caused by some lawmakers who molested some white ladies in a hotel in the US another drama is unfolding with the latest proposal of life pension for Senate president, deputy, Speaker of House of Representative and deputy?

“Where lies the conscience of our Senators? How come they are not perturbed by the prevailing realities? Why are they bent on frustrating the effort of the president at revamping the economy and recovering our looted treasury? We want to assure them that they will not have their way this time, not any more, it queried.

TUC explained that the benefit of the office of the Senate President and other principal officers is too juicy to demand for more.

“The benefit accrueable to politicians is immeasurable, which of course, is why they can do anything to remain there. The Congress is against the excessive privileges and calls for a drastic downward review. It is regrettable that in our clime a senator will not initiate a bill in a whole four year term yet earns higher than the President of the United States.

“The congress is disappointed because we had thought that the two day retreat on Constitution Review organised by the Senate Ad-hoc Committee in Lagos, would have been used to address some grey areas in our constitution, little did we know that such unglodly and disgraceful proposal will be made.

“The senators have posited that it is important the amendment is made in order not to make the senate appear cheapened. And our argument is, what about the poor masses that have been raped, cheapened, abused and preyed upon since 1960s? Enough is enough to the insensitivity of our lawmakers and politicians because we may be left with no option than to hit the street if they fail to listen to the voice of reason”, TUC said.