PAYMENT OF RETIREMENT BENEFITS TO POLITICLA OFFICE HOLDERS IS REPUGNANT TO NATURAL JUSTICE, EQUITY AND GOOD CONSCIENCE – CONSTITUTIONAL LAWYER

Guests on “Political Watch” a Radio Nigeria Enugu Zonal Network programme have kicked against the alleged move by some state governments to commence payment of pensions to some political office holders.
Discussing on the topic, “Pension and Double Emolument for Political Office Holders” one of the guests, a constitutional lawyer and Human Right Activist, Dr. Tony Ngene, said such payment was repugnant to natural justice, equity and good conscience.
Dr. Ngene noted that country needed transformational leaders who would place national priority above personal gains and called on civil society organizations to stand against it.
Another guest, a legal practitioner, Mr. Charles Ibe, said payment of pension and gratuity to political office holders was an aberration to the nation’s legal system.
He advised the government to focus on payment of pension to retired workers.
Also, contributing to the programme, an economist, Mr. Chris Amakaraonye, pointed out that engaging in such expenditure would be counter-productive as it might put the economy of state in a very tight position.
Mr. Amakaraonye expressed displeasure with the manner the issue was being handled in some state legislatures.
Callers in the programme were of the view that payment of pensions might not have positive effects on the economy of the state.

OLIVER OSSAI