The Speaker of House of Representatives, Yakubu Dogara, on Wednesday said the House would consider a welfare package for families of deceased members to ensure “they live in minimum comfort”.
Dogara made this known while fielding questions from journalists after a special session in honour of the late Deputy Leader of the house, Buba Jibrin and late Senator Mustapha Bukar in Abuja.
He said that it was unfortunate that the 8th Assembly had to burry a lot of its members, noting that it had so far lost nine members – six from the lower chambers and three from the upper chambers.
The speaker described the decreased as wonderful people and exceptional legislators, adding that members would attest to the fact that they were impactful people.
He said: “We never had it this bad in the history of the institution; it is something we may want to look at.
“It is incumbent on us to try to ensure that the families have some kind of minimum comfort; we have to think hard and fast about this since there is no life insurance for members of the National Assembly.
“We have to sit down deliberately and craft something that would address this kind of situation.
“All of us, 359 members of the house are indeed their parents now and they can always come to us in case of any emergencies or periods of dire needs and we will assist.
“God had said that He is the father of the fatherless and husband to the widow; God will provide for them I am sure.
“We as legislators will continue to do our best to ensure that their families live in minimum comfort.”
Dogara said that Hon. Jibrin and Senator Bukar left legacies of service, dedication, philanthropy, speaking the truth and protecting the very core of democracy which was the rule of law and due process.
He said that the “heart of the house’’ was with the families of the late legislators and their governments.
The speaker prayed God to stem the hands of death on the institution and grant the deceased eternal rest.
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