By Bill W. Cooper
Montserrado County District #9 Representative, Frank Saah Foko has lambasted opposition senators for signing into law what he describes as ‘evil’ bill dubbed “retirement and pension schemes bill”.
He said it is unfair to see people who professed themselves to “Light” signing up to such a bill at the detriment of the already struggling and poverty driven masses.
Recently, the members of the House of Representatives unanimously rejected the new retirement and pension scheme bill which called top officials of the three branches of government to receive 50 percent of their benefits when they are no longer in powers.
Lofa County’s Representative, Clarence Massaquoi, during Thursday, September 8, sitting described the bill from the Senate for concurrence as ‘unjust and wicked’ and only intended to exploit the already struggling massive.
He said such bill should not be transmitted to the lower house by the senate for discussion on pension scheme therefore it was rejected and returned to the upper house as of the same date upon arrival.
Also in his letter to House Speaker, Bhofal Chambers over the weekend, Montserrado County’s Electoral District #9 Representative, Saah Foko questioned the integrity and moral standing of the opposition lawmakers which include Senators Abraham Darius Dillion, Nyonblee Karnga Lawrence, Steve Zargo and Varney Sherman among others to have drafted such bill describing them as ‘hypocrisy.”
“It is time that the Liberians see that this draconian bill is not a government or CDC bill instead, it comes from the hands of the majority in the opposition who every day questioned the government on frivolous issues but in actuality are the ones designing plans to continue milking the system,” he said.
Foko wondered, “Are these not the same people who believed that except they come to power, the country is not going anywhere under President George Weah leadership and that Liberia deserved better as the economy is in the toilet. So how come they want a pension for their lifetime which will eventually increase the wage bill of the same already spoiled country?”
He went further that if they (lawmakers) continue to pay themselves handsomely at the detriment of the masses, there will never be a better appropriation to the country’s health and education sectors, water and sanitation, youth development and infrastructure development among others.
Foko stressed, “So I believed that any retirement benefits for lawmakers or any government officials get must be earned accrued in conformity with the National Social Security and Welfare Corporation (NASSCORP) Act set aside to dignify life after a distinguished job in the public sphere.”
Commenting on his district position concerning the bill, the District #9 lawmaker emphasized how in this world we continue to use our people for selfish benefits and say we are playing politics; this bill is evil and wicked and that is why it was rejected by the district.”
Meanwhile, Foko is calling on the members of the lower house to hold press conference to communicate it decision clearly on the rejection of the bill to the population of the country.
“Our people are looking up to us to better their lives and not ourselves. Even if the majority succeeds in their quest, district #9 is optimistic that the President know his love for Liberians should veto such a wicked bill,” he noted.
