The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged Governors to emulate the governor of Abia, Mr Alex Otti by repealing life pensions law for ex-Governors of and their deputies in Nigeria.
The life pensions law, which the Abia State House of Assembly on Tuesday March 19th 2024, passed the bill for a law to repeal ‘The Abia State Governors & Deputy Governors Pensions Law No 4 of 2001’. It was signed in 2001 by Senator Orji Kalu, while he was Governor of Abia.
Commending the move in a statement on Friday March 23rd 2024, the human Right watch in a statement published on its social Media page, hailed Governor Otti who
repealed the collection of life pensions by past Governors of the State and their Deputies.
The statement also urge Governor Otti to urgently ask all the former governors of the State and their Deputies who have collected pension payments to immediately return the money to Abia State government coffers.
Part of the statement reads, “We urge governor Otti to urgently ask all the former governors of the state and their deputies who have collected pension payments to immediately return the money to Abia State”.
“We welcome the new law just signed by Alex Otti, governor of Abia, stopping the collection of life pensions by former governors of the state and their deputies.
“We urge governor Otti to urgently ask all the former governors of the state and their deputies who have collected pension payments to immediately return the money to Abia State”, according to SERAP.
Recall that SERAP had secured a judgement delivered by Justice Oluremi Oguntoyinbo dated 26 November 2019, against the life pensions for State Governors and their Deputies.
The Court held that it was double emoluments for former Governors are unacceptable, unconstitutional and illegal.
The law stipulated that former Abia governors and deputies are entitled to 100 percent of the annual basic salaries of the incumbent Governor and Deputy.
The law also provides for their Cooks, Stewards, Drivers, and Gardeners are to be paid by the State; are entitled to three police officers and two operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS).
SERAP listed former Governors who may be collecting life pensions from their States as Badaru Abubakar (former governor of Jigawa State and Minister of Defence); and Nyesom Wike (former governor of River State and FCT Minister).
Others include Bello Matawalle (former governor of Zamfara State and Minister of State for Defence); Adegboyega Isiaka Oyetola (former governor of Osun State and Minister of Transportation); and David Umahi (Minister of Works).
Also listed are Simon Bako Lalong (former governor of Plateau State); Atiku Bagudu (former governor of Kebbi State and Minister of Budget and Economic Planning); Ibrahim Geidam (former governor of Yole State and Minister of Police of Affairs.
SERAP said the States currently implementing life pensions and other ‘retirement benefits’ for former Governors reportedly include Jigawa, Kebbi, Jigawa, Ebonyi, Yobe, and Rivers. These states owe workers’ salaries and remain the poorest in the Country.
It also said several of the pension laws in these States include provisions for six cars every three years, a house in Lagos worth N750 million, and another in Abuja worth N1 billion, unrestricted access to medical attention, and pensionable Cooks, Stewards, and Gardeners.
Other provisions include 100 per cent annual salaries of the incumbent governor, security operatives and police officers permanently assigned to former governors.
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