Diri’s deputy advocates welfare support for ex-lawmakers

Peter Akpe, Bayelsa State deputy governor, has called on relevant authorities to fashion out a legal framework that would enable former lawmakers to draw monthly pensions as their civil servant counterparts.

Akpe made the call on Thursday when the chairman and members of the Bayelsa State Former Legislators Forum paid him a courtesy visit in Government House, Yenagoa.

A statement issued by Doubara Atasi, senior special assistant to the Deputy Governor on Media, quoted Akpe as saying that providing such welfare scheme for people who had put in a minimum of four years in service would give them a sense of fulfilment and also cater to their basic living needs in their post-service years.

Akpe, who is a member of the forum, enjoined his colleagues to carry out extensive research on extant pension laws in the country and work collaboratively with serving legislators and other stakeholders to make the monthly welfare scheme issue a reality.

He highlighted efforts made in his days at the state House of Assembly on the matter and suggested a contributory pensions scheme that would require serving legislators to make monthly contributions while in service.

His words: “We must look at the welfare of our members. As you know, legislations are meant to solve societal problems as well as promote the welfare of the people.

“In our time, we mooted and crafted the idea of pensions for legislators in the state. But unfortunately, we were misunderstood and I was at the centre of the news in Bayelsa, even though I was not going to benefit from it because I was already a pensioner.

“I have been and I’m still an advocate on this issue; that whoever that has passed through the legislature as a member should benefit from a pension welfare because it will give the person a sense of fulfilment and enable him or her to meet some basic living needs. It must not be a big money.”

Akpe underscored the pivotal role legislators play in societal development, stressing that no democratic government could function without the legislature that enact laws to ensure the peace, stability and development of society.

He expressed gratitude to the forum for their show of solidarity and continued support for the present administration’s policies and programmes and assured that government would assist in the building of the Forum’s Legislative Centre and Guesthouse project.

He said, “I want to also appreciate you all for your support to the Governor and this administration. You have always been there for us, and we are not taking your support for granted. Your experience as former legislators is very important to governance.

“Though governance has several sections, like you know: the executive, judiciary and legislature. But the irreducible fact is that, there is no democracy without the legislature.

“The other arms of government can operate without the legislature in other forms of government. But you can’t operate a democracy without the legislature. So the experience and privilege you have had in the legislature is never a waste.”

Earlier, Robert Enogha, chairman of the Bayelsa State Former Legislators Forum, said the visit was to primarily rejoice with Akpe on his recent elevation as the deputy governor of the state, a development which he described as a divine arrangement.

Ayalla commended Governor Douye Diri for giving a sense of belonging to the forum by appointing some of its members, including Akpe, and Nimibofa Ayawei, Secretary to the State Government, to positions of public trust.

He used the opportunity to request the state government and other relevant stakeholders to support the forum’s efforts towards building a world-class Legislative Centre and Guesthouse in Yenagoa, to promote learning and socioeconomic activities in the state.