The Solomon Islands prime minister has withdrawn a bill aimed at keeping former prime ministers on the government payroll.
The Solomon Islands Broadcasting Corporation reports that Cabinet told Gordon Darcy Lilo the Prime Minister's Pension and Benefits bill 2013 requires more consultation before bringing it to parliament.
The bill was expected to benefit all prime ministers who have served since 1978
Nine out of 11 prime ministers that have served since independence are still alive.
Local media say the bill stated that former prime ministers would be given a pension equivalent to 80 percent of the current prime minister's salary, or about 17,500 US dollars a year, for the rest of their life.
Mr Lilo says he had to take the advice of his cabinet and must withdraw the bill.
He says the proposed wider consultation on the bill will aim to educate the public why former prime ministers need pensions and benefit schemes.
