The Gambia government has introduced a bill to the National Assembly that seeks to provide lifetime pension benefits to former presidents. 

The bill was presented to the lawmakers by the Attorney General and Minister of Justice, Dawda Jallow. 

The bill wants the government to furnish and equip the office of a former president to the standard of cabinet level, and “shall employ not less than four staff, including a

personal assistant and personal secretary within six months after a president leaves office”.

It also said that the office of a former president may continue to operate for six months immediately after the death of a former president to complete unfinished business and to close the office.

“The Government shall pay a former President for the rest of his or her

life a monthly pension payable in arrears of an amount equal to the 

monthly salary of a serving president.

“The Government within thirty (30) days from the date a former president leaves office, shall pay a former president a non-taxable lump sum gratuity in a sum equal to six months of his or her gross salary last received whilst in office, and such gratuity shall be paid to him or her only once,” the bill said.

According to the bill, the gratuity of a former president who died before receiving his or

her gratuity, shall be paid to the curator of Interstate Estate to distribute it among his or her heirs.

Reporting by Adama Makasuba