Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged all
\nformer governors now in the ninth Senate to “publicly commit to stop
\ncollecting pensions from their states while they serve as senators,
\nreturn ‘pensions’ already collected to the public treasury, and push for
\nthe abolition of double emoluments laws for former governors and
\ndeputies in their states.”<\/p>\n
Several of the 36 states have enacted pension-for-life laws for former
\ngovernors and deputies. Among former governors in the ninth Senate that
\nwill enjoy such pensions are two ex-governors Abia State, Orji Kalu, and
\nhis successor, Theodore Orji; former governor Ebonyi State Sam Egwu;
\nformer governor Imo State Rochas Okorocha; former governor Ogun State
\nIbikunle Amosu; and former governor Gombe State, Danjuma Goje.<\/p>\n
SERAP in a statement today by its deputy director Kolawole Oluwadare
\nsaid: “As members of the ninth Senate resume Tuesday, there is a lot at
\nstake. The leadership and members must now take meaningful steps to
\nimprove citizens’ trust and confidence in the Senate’s authority and
\nability to positively impact on their lives, by embracing the values of
\ntransparency, accountability, responsibility, solidarity and respect for
\nhuman rights.”<\/p>\n
SERAP said: “Nigeria deserves a Senate that is fully committed to
\ntransparency, accountability, the rule of law, proper management of
\npublic resources, and human rights. It’s time for the leadership and
\nmembers of the Senate to show the commitment and courage to end double
\npay for former governors among them.”<\/p>\n
The statement read in part: “Given the large number of former governors
\nin the ninth Senate that would be receiving pensions, the Senate
\nleadership and members should be the loudest voice urging action against
\npension for life laws across many states. Senators are already receiving
\nseveral allowances, including ‘severance allowance’, ‘welcome package’,
\nand at least N15 million monthly allowance as senators.”<\/p>\n
“Double pay and self-enrichment for ex-governors now senators have
\ncontinued to contribute to ‘resource curse and the paradox of plenty’,
\nwith corrosive effect on governance and ultimately, respect for human
\nrights, including the rights to quality education, adequate healthcare,
\nclean water and regular electricity supply.”<\/p>\n
“Double pay for former governors and now senators will continue to have
\na negative impact on the ability of the Senate to exercise
\nconstitutional oversight over the use of public funds and limit avenues
\nfor public accountability.”<\/p>\n
“Payment of pensions to former governors in the Senate will continue to
\nhave an extremely negative effect on Nigeria’s development and the
\nwell-being of the population, particularly in the states with life
\npension laws. Life pension laws have depleted the public resources that
\nwould have been spent on the basic needs of Nigerians.”<\/p>\n
“The Senate President, Ahmed Lawan should also use his political
\nposition and influence to sponsor a resolution and prevail on Senators
\nto stop double pay for public office holders. Double pay for
\nex-governors amounts to misuse of public funds, as it diverts resources
\naway from support for essential public services, invariably allowing
\npoliticians to maintain control over the political and economic
\nresources of their states.”<\/p>\n
“By providing the leadership on the matter, Senator Lawan will be
\nsending a powerful message to his colleagues that public function is
\nmeant to be exercised in the public interest. Such public commitment and
\naction to abolish double emoluments laws would also be entirely
\nconsistent with article 19 of the UN Convention against Corruption to
\nwhich Nigeria is a state party.”<\/p>\n
“The failures to allocate adequate financial resources to health,
\neducation, water in part because of payment of life pensions to former
\ngovernors directly contravene Nigeria’s obligations under the
\nInternational Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the
\nInternational Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights
\n(ICESCR).”<\/p>\n
“Under the Certain Political Office Holders and Judicial Officers
\nRemuneration Act, former governors who are lawmakers are already
\nentitled to 300% of their basic salary as severance pay at the end of
\ntheir terms as senators.”<\/p>\n
“Other ex-governors in the ninth Senate include: former governor Enugu
\nState Chimaroke Nnamani; former governor Kebbi state Adamu Aliero, and
\nformer governor Nasarawa state Abdullahi Adamu.”<\/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
\ncook, chauffeurs and security guards for the governor at a sum not
\nexceeding N5m per month and N2.5m for the deputy governor; free medical
\nservices for governor and spouse totaling N100m for the governor per
\nannum, a five-bedroom mansion in Abuja and Akwa Ibom; and allowance of
\n300 percent of annual basic salary for the deputy governor; 300 percent
\nof annual basic salary every four years and severance gratuity.”<\/p>\n
“In Gombe State, there is N300 million executive pension benefits for
\nthe ex-governors. In Kwara State, the 2010 law gives a former governor
\ntwo cars and a security car replaceable every three years; a
\nwell-furnished 5-bedroom duplex; 300 per cent of his salary as furniture
\nallowance; five personal staff; three State Security Services; free
\nmedical care for the governor and the deputy; 30 percent of salary for
\ncar maintenance; 20 per cent for utility; 10 percent for entertainment;
\n10 per cent for house maintenance.”<\/p>\n
“Benefits accruable to former governors of Edo State under the Pension
\nRights of the Governor and Deputy Governor Law 2007 amount to 100 per
\ncent of the salary of the incumbent governor for life, an officer not
\nabove Salary grade level 12 as Special Assistant, a personal secretary
\nnot below grade level 10 who shall be selected by the former governor
\nfrom the public service of Edo State.”<\/p>\n
“In Osun State, the law guiding the payment of pensions to former
\ngovernors and their deputies is cited as the Pension (Governor and
\nDeputy Governor) Law 2001. The law stipulates that former governors and
\nformer deputy governors shall be entitled to pension at the rate
\nequivalent to the incumbent office holder.”<\/p>\n
“In Zamfara state, pension law allows former governors to receive
\npension for life; two personal staff; two vehicles replaceable every
\nfour years; two drivers, free medical for the former governors and
\ndeputies and their immediate families in Nigeria or abroad; a 4-bedroom
\nhouse in Zamfara and an office; free telephone and 30 days paid vacation
\noutside Nigeria.”<\/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
\nestimated to cost between N500m and N700m. Others are six brand new cars
\nevery three years; furniture allowance of 300 percent of annual salary
\nevery two years, and a close to N2.5m as pension (about N30m pension
\nannually).”<\/p>\n
“In Rivers, state law provides 100 percent of annual basic salaries for
\nex-governor and deputy, one residential house for former governor
\nanywhere of his choice in Nigeria; one residential house anywhere in
\nRivers for the deputy, three cars for the ex-governor every four years;
\ntwo cars for the deputy every four years; 300 percent of annual basic
\nsalary every four years for furniture; 10 percent of annual basic salary
\nfor house maintenance.”<\/p>\n
“Similarly, the Kano State Pension Rights of Governor and Deputy
\nGovernor Law 2007 provides for 100 percent of annual basic salaries for
\nformer governor and deputy; furnished and equipped office; a 6-bedroom
\nhouse; well-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
\nand outside Nigeria.”<\/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
\nrenewed after every four years.”<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged all former governors now in the ninth Senate to “publicly commit to stop collecting pensions from their states while they serve as…<\/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-67385","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"yoast_head":"\n