Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the
Chairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz
Yari to emulate the example of Senate President Bukola Saraki and make a
clear public commitment that the Governors Forum and all governors will
take immediate steps to abolish double emoluments laws for former
governors and deputies in their states.
Saraki yesterday disclosed how he inspired the passing of the bill by the
Kwara State House of Assembly to suspend payment of pensions to former
governors and their deputies when they hold a public office and called on
other state assemblies to take a cue from Kwara and pass similar laws in
their states.
This followed SERAPs request to Saraki on Tuesday urging him to use his
leadership position to sponsor a resolution in the Senate that would call
on other states to abolish payment of double emoluments to ex-governors
and their deputies.
SERAP in a statement today by its deputy director Timothy Adewale said,
Governor Yari should show leadership by example by starting the campaign
within the Governors Forum to abolish double emoluments laws from his own
Zamfara State, which has passed laws allowing former governors to receive
pension for life; two personal staff; two vehicles replaceable every four
years; two drivers, free medical for the former governors and deputies and
their immediate families in Nigeria or abroad; a 4-bedroom house in
Zamfara and an office; free telephone and 30 days paid vacation outside
Nigeria.
According to the organization, Following the positive engagement and
intervention by the Senate President on the matter, it is now indefensible
for the Governors Forum to remain indifferent to the issue of double
emoluments for ex-governors and their deputies. We urge Governor Yari to
speak out strongly against double pensions laws and encourage his
colleagues to urgently take measures to abolish such laws in their states
for the sake of millions of Nigerians who deserve good governance and
sustainable development.
The statement read in part: By providing the necessary leadership on the
matter, Governor Yari will be sending a powerful message to his colleagues
that public function is meant to be exercised in the public interest. Such
public commitment and action to abolish double emoluments laws would also
be entirely consistent with article 19 of the UN Convention against
Corruption to which Nigeria is a state party.
Given the strong influence of senators on their states, we also urge the
Senate President to now build on his public statement to state assemblies
by immediately taking steps to sponsor a resolution at the Senate on the
matter.
The abolition of such laws is a necessary first step towards delivering
on the constitutional promise of equal protection and equal benefit of the
law for a distressingly large number of Nigerians. Otherwise, public
officials will remain seriously out of touch with a major source of
poverty and discrimination in the country.
It would be recalled that the Federal High Court in Lagos in January ruled
that SERAP has sufficient interest to bring its suit to stop former
governors and now serving senators and ministers from receiving double pay
and life pensions, and to seek recovery of over N40bn of public funds
unduly received by these public officers.
Justice Oluremi Oguntoyinbo stated this while granting leave in the suit
number FHC/L/CS/1497/17 filed last year by SERAP to compel the
Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mr. Abubakar
Malami, SAN to challenge the legality of states laws that allow former
governors who are now senators and ministers to enjoy governors
emoluments while drawing normal salaries and allowances in their new
political offices and to identify those involved and seek full recovery of
public funds from them.
It would also be recalled that following SERAPs letter to Mr Malami,
Senate President Dr Bukola Saraki last year told the News Agency of
Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja that he wrote a letter to the state
government to stop the payment of the pension the moment I saw that SERAP
allegation. He said, No, Im not collecting pension; the moment I saw
that allegation, I wrote to my state to stop my pension.
So far, Dr. Kayode Fayemi Minister of Mines and Steel Development and his
counterparts in the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris
Ngige, and Minister of Power, Works and Housing Babatunde Fashola have
denied ever receiving double payments and retirement benefits as former
governors in addition to other roles in public office.
SERAPs letter to Malami read in part: According to our information,
those who reportedly receive double emoluments and large severance
benefits from their states include: Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (Kano); Kabiru
Gaya (Kano); Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom); Theodore Orji (Abia); Abdullahi
Adamu (Nasarawa); Sam Egwu (Ebonyi); Shaaba Lafiagi (Kwara); Joshua Dariye
(Plateau), and Jonah Jang (Plateau). Others include: Ahmed Sani Yarima
(Zamfara); Danjuma Goje (Gombe); Bukar Abba Ibrahim (Yobe); Adamu Aliero
(Kebbi); George Akume (Benue); and Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers).
Under the Lagos Pension Law a former governor will enjoy the following
benefits for life: Two houses, one in Lagos and another in Abuja estimated
to cost between N500m and N700m. Others are six brand new cars every three
years; furniture allowance of 300 percent of annual salary every two
years, and a close to N2.5m as pension (about N30m pension annually); free
medicals including for his immediate families; 10 percent house
maintenance; 30 percent car maintenance; 10 percent entertainment; 20
percent utility; and several domestic staff.
In Rivers, state law provides 100 percent of annual basic salaries for
ex-governor and deputy, one residential house for former governor anywhere
of his choice in Nigeria; one residential house anywhere in Rivers for the
deputy, three cars for the ex-governor every four years; two cars for the
deputy every four years; 300 percent of annual basic salary every four
years for furniture; 10 percent of annual basic salary for house
maintenance.
In Akwa Ibom, state law provides for N200m annual pay to ex governors,
deputies; pension for life; a new official car and utility-vehicle every
four years; one personal aide and provision of adequate security; a cook,
chauffeurs and security guards for the governor at a sum not exceeding N5m
per month and N2.5m for the deputy governor; free medical services for
governor and spouse totaling N100m for the governor per annum and N50m for
the deputy governor; a five-bedroom mansion in Abuja and Akwa Ibom; and
allowance of 300 percent of annual basic salary for the deputy governor;
300 percent of annual basic salary every four years and severance
gratuity.
Similarly, the Kano State Pension Rights of Governor and Deputy Governor
Law 2007 provides for 100 percent of annual basic salaries for former
governor and deputy; furnished and equipped office; a 6-bedroom house;
well-furnished 4-bedroom for deputy, plus an office; free medical
treatment along with immediate families within and outside Nigeria where
necessary; two drivers; and a provision for a 30- day vacation within and
outside Nigeria.
In Gombe State, there is N300 million executive pension benefits for the
ex-governors. In Kwara State, the 2010 law gives a former governor two
cars and a security car replaceable every three years; a well-furnished
5-bedroom duplex; 300 per cent of his salary as furniture allowance; five
personal staff; three State Security Services; free medical care for the
governor and the deputy; 30 percent of salary for car maintenance; 20 per
cent for utility; 10 percent for entertainment; 10 per cent for house
maintenance.
In Sokoto State, former governors and deputy governors are to receive
N200m and N180m respectively being monetization for other entitlements
which include domestic aides, residence and vehicles that could be renewed
after every four years.