Pension Amendment Bill and Legislative Malpractice

By

Bello Muhammad Tsafe

bellochafe@yahoo.com

 

When I first learnt about the controversial Pension Amendment Bill and the seeming ulterior motive behind it, that it was a sort of Obansanjo’s “third term” to enable the presidency appoints the current Acting Director General (DG) of National Pension Commission (PenCom) Mrs. Anohu-Amazu Chinelo, who hitherto is ineligible to occupy the position, I dismissed it as normal media frenzy. My take was that, the President has the right to appoint any eligible Nigerian to any position. And that despite all the incredible things we see happening under this administration there is at least a minimum level of integrity a government should maintain however bad it is. And I expected the government of President Goodluck Jonathan to ensure same by appointing an eligible person to head not only PenCom but any other government agency. This is because every post has its eligibility requirements ranging from age, educational qualification, years of experience and the likes. And in all the corners of this country you will find persons who are qualified and could do the job. Why then, would the position of DG PenCom be an exception? Moreso, when PenCom is ranked high among the Grade A Parastatals such as; NNPC, CBN and the likes why then, is the appointment of DG PenCom so obtrusive?

Furthermore, a President who so desperately seeks for re-election would not only need to be fair to all and sundry, he also ought to strive to pursue popular policies, and that also includes appointing competent persons who would improve his rating. The same way the appointment of Prof Jega as INEC Chairman in 2010 elevated the hopes of Nigerians. As far as I can see this PenCom palaver is anything but. Secondly, we are yet to be told about the miracles which Mrs. Amazu is performing in PenCom to warrant tempering of our laws in order to make a personified bill, so that the country would not be deprived of this masterfully rare managerial genius that none expect Amazu could perform. In fact, findings from the Agency paint a blink picture in the future of Pension Management in Nigeria. Many people believe that Mrs Amazu’s ethnicity and “forced” closeness to the First Lady as well as the backing of the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. Anyim Pious Anyim (who many accused of pursuing ethnic agenda) are the only qualities that keep her in that position. This is perhaps what will explain why for close to a year an agency of tremendous importance would be left in the hands of an inexperienced Acting DG without substantive board. If this hasn’t bothered the President, I doubt if anything else will.

Worse still, while Pensioners and other Nigerians held their breath, a news broke in the media about a Senator who also doubles as Chairman Senate Committee on Pension and Establishment matters and his counterpart in the House of Representatives were alleged to Have engaged in what I called legislative malpractice, by allegedly ‘forging’ the signature of their colleagues, (most of whom I was told refused to compromise their opposition to the clause that favors Amazu) in order to submit the Pension Amendment Bill for subsequent passage. I doubt if there could be an act of desperation than this. This apparent act of criminality, if it is true, exposes and proves that this bill is dubious, at best. If the bill was aimed at making Pension management better why would legislators, who should be making laws be engaged in such a cheap act of criminality to get a bill passed? And what are ICPC, Code of Conduct and other anti-corruption agency doing about this? Why is the leadership of National Assembly silent about this despite having egg on its face? Shouldn’t we be asking questions what is really going on in this PenCom? Why are they desperately trying to keep Mrs Amazu by hook and by crook? Besides, Nigerians have not forgotten the dubious manner which the SGF Sen. Anyim adopted to retain Mrs. Amazu after her 8-year tenure as Commission’s Secretary (equivalent to a Director) expired.  Hitherto, the FG policy of maximum of 8-year tenure (aka Oronsaye’s policy) for Permanent Secretary and Directors is still in effect.  Why then, is Amazu still in the service when her colleagues have been asked to leave?

It is high time President Jonathan took effective charge of Nigeria by dissociating himself from ethnic jingoists within his government. Because things like this only magnify the fear among Nigerians that President Jonathan has been held hostage by selfish cabal who only guide the policies of his administration to tilt towards their personal benefit even if it does damage to the President himself. That is why even though the President has been attested to be a good person his enemies kept on multiplying for no fault of his. The President is hereby advised to take a bold step and appoint someone with adequate experience, proven integrity and capacity to head PenCom. In the same token, the President should ensure all the pending appointments gathering dust at the SGF’s office are approved and implemented. This will no doubt bring a sigh of relief among not just the Nigerian pensioners, it will also restore the confidence Nigerians once had for their government. God save Nigeria.