Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Hon. Benjamin Kalu, has described former lawmakers as reservoirs of insight whose wealth of experience is valuable to the task of nation-building.
He said the collective wisdom of former lawmakers could be harnessed for Nigeria’s progress.
The deputy speaker said the government of President Bola Tinubu was ready to work with the former legislators to realise the administration’s objectives of repositioning the country.
He spoke yesterday at the maiden gathering of the Nigerian Former Legislators Forum (NFLF), an association he convened in Enugu State.
The event attracted many former lawmakers from the National Assembly, State Houses of Assembly and Local Government Legislative Assemblies across the federation among whom were former Senate Presidents Ken Nnamani and Anyim Pius Anyim; former Speaker Yakubu Dogara; former Deputy Speaker Emeka Ihedioha; former governor of Imo State, Senator Rochas Okorocha and former Minister of Aviation, Senator Stella Oduah.
He said the NFLF would adopt a robust framework that prioritises pension security, holistic welfare, institutionalised expertise and privileges for its members.
Kalu also emphasised the need for a unified approach to secure their dignity and support one another beyond their tenure.
The deputy speaker further proposed a hybrid pension model combining contributory and non-contributory schemes to ensure sustainability and safeguard of the former lawmakers.
He also proposed the establishment of a Knowledge Bureau to document legislative best practices and launch study groups on critical issues: granting lifetime ID cards, healthcare insurance, and parking privileges to honor the service of the former lawmakers and creating an Executive Committee and Advisory Board to guide strategic partnerships and ensure continuity.
