While the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) condemned the proposed bill, the Coalition Against Corrupt Leaders described the move as self-serving and despicable.
The immunity and life pension for the presiding officers were proposed by some senators at a retreat on constitution review organised by the Senate Ad Hoc Committee on Constitution Review in Lagos on Saturday.
SERAP described the demands as gross injustice and double jeopardy for millions of Nigerian pensioners, who continued to be denied the fruit of their labour at their old age.
SERAP, in a statement, Sunday by its Executive Director, Adetokunbo Mumuni, said, the proposal “is the calculated use of legislative powers to alter the 1999 Constitution in their favour so that they can enjoy life benefits at the expense of millions of economically and socially-disadvantaged Nigerians who voted them into office.”
It added, “Granting senators and members of the House of Representatives immunity and life pension would neither enhance governance, accountability nor contribute to the betterment of Nigerians.”
Executive Chairman of CACOL, Mr. Debo Adeniran, also Sunday, said, “Those seeking immunity for some principal officers of the National Assembly are the same people supporting the weakening of the anti-corruption agencies.
“This is even coming at a time the Nigerian public is clamouring for the removal of the immunity clause that protects the executive arms of federal and state governments with a view to reducing the impunity with which corruption and other crimes are committed by them.”
According to Adeniran, those lawmakers seeking immunity are those who allegedly committed the worst form of corruption crimes and desire to escape justice.
On the issue of life pension for the lawmakers, the CACOL boss described those asking for life pension for the National Assembly members as treasury looters.
