Bayelsa House of Assembly on Wednesday approved monthly pensions to speakers, deputy speakers and other members of assembly.

The bill sponsored by the leader of the House, Peter Akpe, which was passed on the floor of the House, approved N500,000 post service monthly pension to the speakers of the assembly.

The deputy speakers are to earn monthly pension of N200,000 while other rest 24-member capacity assembly will earn N100,000 each.

The bill specifically provided that former lawmakers including persons of Bayelsa origin, who served in the old Rivers State, would enjoy life pensions for their services in the state as applicable to former presidents, vice-presidents, governors and deputy governors across the country.

To qualify for the speakership pension of N500,000 monthly, the lawmaker the person must have served for two years and above.

Most stakeholders in Bayelsa State took to different social media platforms to criticise the bill, deriding the lawmakers for being selfish and insensitive.

A resident, Fidel Boboye, described the move as greed in the highest places and wondered why such political office holders with the wealth and money they had amassed still awarded life pensions to themselves.

Another resident Preye Alegbe, said: “Is this not too much for these persons even as there are many graduates out there without good jobs? Why can’t the legislature channel these legislations to areas where the younger generations can benefit more.” (The Nation)

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