Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the
\nChairman, Nigeria Governors’ Forum and Zamfara State Governor, Abdulaziz
\nYari to emulate the example of Senate President Bukola Saraki and make a
\nclear public commitment that the Governors Forum and all governors will
\ntake immediate steps to abolish double emoluments laws for former
\ngovernors and deputies in their states.<\/p>\n
Saraki yesterday disclosed how he inspired the passing of the bill by the
\nKwara State House of Assembly to suspend payment of pensions to former
\ngovernors and their deputies when they hold a public office and called on
\nother state assemblies to take a cue from Kwara and pass similar laws in
\ntheir states.<\/p>\n
This followed SERAPs request to Saraki on Tuesday urging him to use his
\nleadership position to sponsor a resolution in the Senate that would call
\non other states to abolish payment of double emoluments to ex-governors
\nand their deputies.<\/p>\n
SERAP in a statement today by its deputy director Timothy Adewale said,
\nGovernor Yari should show leadership by example by starting the campaign
\nwithin the Governors Forum to abolish double emoluments laws from his own
\nZamfara State, which has passed laws allowing former governors to receive
\npension for life; two personal staff; two vehicles replaceable every four
\nyears; two drivers, free medical for the former governors and deputies and
\ntheir immediate families in Nigeria or abroad; a 4-bedroom house in
\nZamfara and an office; free telephone and 30 days paid vacation outside
\nNigeria.<\/p>\n
According to the organization, Following the positive engagement and
\nintervention by the Senate President on the matter, it is now indefensible
\nfor the Governors Forum to remain indifferent to the issue of double
\nemoluments for ex-governors and their deputies. We urge Governor Yari to
\nspeak out strongly against double pensions laws and encourage his
\ncolleagues to urgently take measures to abolish such laws in their states
\nfor the sake of millions of Nigerians who deserve good governance and
\nsustainable development.<\/p>\n
The statement read in part: By providing the necessary leadership on the
\nmatter, Governor Yari will be sending a powerful message to his colleagues
\nthat public function is meant to be exercised in the public interest. Such
\npublic commitment and action to abolish double emoluments laws would also
\nbe entirely consistent with article 19 of the UN Convention against
\nCorruption to which Nigeria is a state party.<\/p>\n
Given the strong influence of senators on their states, we also urge the
\nSenate President to now build on his public statement to state assemblies
\nby immediately taking steps to sponsor a resolution at the Senate on the
\nmatter.<\/p>\n
The abolition of such laws is a necessary first step towards delivering
\non the constitutional promise of equal protection and equal benefit of the
\nlaw for a distressingly large number of Nigerians. Otherwise, public
\nofficials will remain seriously out of touch with a major source of
\npoverty and discrimination in the country.<\/p>\n
It would be recalled that the Federal High Court in Lagos in January ruled
\nthat SERAP has sufficient interest to bring its suit to stop former
\ngovernors and now serving senators and ministers from receiving double pay
\nand life pensions, and to seek recovery of over N40bn of public funds
\nunduly received by these public officers.<\/p>\n
Justice Oluremi Oguntoyinbo stated this while granting leave in the suit
\nnumber FHC\/L\/CS\/1497\/17 filed last year by SERAP to compel the
\nAttorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mr. Abubakar
\nMalami, SAN to challenge the legality of states laws that allow former
\ngovernors who are now senators and ministers to enjoy governors
\nemoluments while drawing normal salaries and allowances in their new
\npolitical offices and to identify those involved and seek full recovery of
\npublic funds from them.<\/p>\n
It would also be recalled that following SERAPs letter to Mr Malami,
\nSenate President Dr Bukola Saraki last year told the News Agency of
\nNigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja that he wrote a letter to the state
\ngovernment to stop the payment of the pension the moment I saw that SERAP
\nallegation. He said, No, Im not collecting pension; the moment I saw
\nthat allegation, I wrote to my state to stop my pension.<\/p>\n
So far, Dr. Kayode Fayemi Minister of Mines and Steel Development and his
\ncounterparts in the Ministry of Labour and Employment, Senator Chris
\nNgige, and Minister of Power, Works and Housing Babatunde Fashola have
\ndenied ever receiving double payments and retirement benefits as former
\ngovernors in addition to other roles in public office.<\/p>\n
SERAPs letter to Malami read in part: According to our information,
\nthose who reportedly receive double emoluments and large severance
\nbenefits from their states include: Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso (Kano); Kabiru
\nGaya (Kano); Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom); Theodore Orji (Abia); Abdullahi
\nAdamu (Nasarawa); Sam Egwu (Ebonyi); Shaaba Lafiagi (Kwara); Joshua Dariye
\n(Plateau), and Jonah Jang (Plateau). Others include: Ahmed Sani Yarima
\n(Zamfara); Danjuma Goje (Gombe); Bukar Abba Ibrahim (Yobe); Adamu Aliero
\n(Kebbi); George Akume (Benue); and Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers).<\/p>\n
Under the Lagos Pension Law a former governor will enjoy the following
\nbenefits for life: Two houses, one in Lagos and another in Abuja estimated
\nto cost between N500m and N700m. Others are six brand new cars every three
\nyears; furniture allowance of 300 percent of annual salary every two
\nyears, and a close to N2.5m as pension (about N30m pension annually); free
\nmedicals including for his immediate families; 10 percent house
\nmaintenance; 30 percent car maintenance; 10 percent entertainment; 20
\npercent utility; and several domestic staff.<\/p>\n
In Rivers, state law provides 100 percent of annual basic salaries for
\nex-governor and deputy, one residential house for former governor anywhere
\nof his choice in Nigeria; one residential house anywhere in Rivers for the
\ndeputy, three cars for the ex-governor every four years; two cars for the
\ndeputy every four years; 300 percent of annual basic salary every four
\nyears for furniture; 10 percent of annual basic salary for house
\nmaintenance.<\/p>\n
In Akwa Ibom, state law provides for N200m annual pay to ex governors,
\ndeputies; pension for life; a new official car and utility-vehicle every
\nfour years; one personal aide and provision of adequate security; a cook,
\nchauffeurs and security guards for the governor at a sum not exceeding N5m
\nper month and N2.5m for the deputy governor; free medical services for
\ngovernor and spouse totaling N100m for the governor per annum and N50m for
\nthe deputy governor; a five-bedroom mansion in Abuja and Akwa Ibom; and
\nallowance of 300 percent of annual basic salary for the deputy governor;
\n300 percent of annual basic salary every four years and severance
\ngratuity.<\/p>\n
Similarly, the Kano State Pension Rights of Governor and Deputy Governor
\nLaw 2007 provides for 100 percent of annual basic salaries for former
\ngovernor and deputy; furnished and equipped office; a 6-bedroom house;
\nwell-furnished 4-bedroom for deputy, plus an office; free medical
\ntreatment along with immediate families within and outside Nigeria where
\nnecessary; two drivers; and a provision for a 30- day vacation within and
\noutside Nigeria.<\/p>\n
In Gombe State, there is N300 million executive pension benefits for the
\nex-governors. In Kwara State, the 2010 law gives a former governor two
\ncars and a security car replaceable every three years; a well-furnished
\n5-bedroom duplex; 300 per cent of his salary as furniture allowance; five
\npersonal staff; three State Security Services; free medical care for the
\ngovernor and the deputy; 30 percent of salary for car maintenance; 20 per
\ncent for utility; 10 percent for entertainment; 10 per cent for house
\nmaintenance.<\/p>\n
In Sokoto State, former governors and deputy governors are to receive
\nN200m and N180m respectively being monetization for other entitlements
\nwhich include domestic aides, residence and vehicles that could be renewed
\nafter every four years.<\/p>\n
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…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":56720,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_lmt_disableupdate":"","_lmt_disable":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[5],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-61093","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n