Patience Jonathan, has canvassed for the inclusion of roles of presidents’ wives in the Constitution.
This, according to Patience Jonathan would enable them get retirement benefits along with their spouses when they leave office.
Patience Jonathan made the plea in a chat with journalists shortly after she was sworn-in as Permanent Secretary in the Bayelsa State Civil Service along with 18 others by Governor Seriake Dickson on Friday afternoon.
Patience Jonathan lamented that the office of the First Lady is not currently recognized because it is not in the Constitution, saying its inclusion will “enable the occupier of that position to enjoy benefits of the office like their husbands on retirement.”
Patience Jonathan recalled a situation when the Governor of Lagos State, Mr. Babatunde Fashola (SAN) prevailed on the president to call her to order because the role of the first lady is not in the Constitution.
Patience Jonathan tasked the Constitution Amendment Committee to look into the issue with a view to including it in the next constitution.
“We the wives of political office holders, if our names are not in the constitution and our husbands retire with benefits, the Constitution amendment committee should also look into the issue of wives of political appointees.
“We should be included in the Constitution so that we too can retire with benefits. With that we can enjoy our career, “Patience Jonathan added.
In his address, Governor Dickson, warned the new permanent secretaries against involvement in politics, saying “we don’t want your involvement in politics; we don’t want to hear that any permanent secretary is involved in the act of politicizing our People.”
By Isaac Ombe, The Nation Newspaper.
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