TUC decries life pension immunity for Senators

Condemns arbitrary sack of workers

Trade Union Congress of Nigeria (TUC) has denounced the proposed life pension and immunity for presiding officers of the National Assembly after their tenure in office, saying it is unfortunate.

According to TUC, the proposal is coming at a time the nation is witnessing economic downturn which has brought about massive job losses and unprecedented poverty.

In a statement made available to The Guardian signed by its President, Bobboi Bala Kaigama, demanded that those who violate the law no matter how highly placed should face the wrath of the law.

Kaigama said, “Sometimes we wonder if our 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 not 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, he queried.

According to him, the benefit of the office of the Senate President and other principal officers is too juicy to demand for more. The benefit accruable 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, he said.

“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 ungodly 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.

“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.”

However, the congress also expresseddispleasure over the unabated anti-workers stance of bank which includes casualisation, stifled unionizationand arbitrary sack of workers.

Despite the concerted efforts made by the sister union, National Union of Banks, Insurance and Financial Institutions Employees, (NUBIFIE), to make your management have a positive review of your stance, the situation is even becoming worse.

“As a responsible and one of the leading industrial unions in the country, we cannot be passive as your bank which houses standing investment turned deaf ears to the genuine concern of NUBIFIE.