Akwa Ibom may be in the centre of the storm over the controversial retirement pension plan for its former governors. But it is not the first state in the country to introduce a retirement plan for former governors.
Imo State was the first to work out such a plan which was focused on the first civilian governor of the state, Chief Sam Mbakwe who was generally acclaimed for his selfless service to the state as governor of the state between 1979 and 1983.
Bola Tinubu and some APC governors
Following the two examples, other states followed suit, but then in far more controversial forms.
The law enacted in Lagos State in 2007 provided for the former governor to be paid the salary of the incumbent office holder, 300% of the incumbent’s basic salary as furniture allowance, three vehicles which are to be renewed every three years, car maintenance allowance, house maintenance allowance, allowance for the maintenance of personal staff and other entitlements estimated to cost the taxpayer N17 million per annum.
Following Lagos was Kwara which in 2010 came up with a seemingly outlandish retirement package for former governors which besides the provisions set out in Lagos also included free medical care, a free house to be provided in Abuja and an annual 30 day holiday package outside Nigeria to be paid for by the Kwara State government.
Rivers State also followed suit in 2012 with a similar provisions to that of Kwara that was only different with the exception of the holiday package.
OGUN
In Ogun State, where there are presently two former democratically elected former governors, there is no provision to enact a pension scheme for the former chief executives outside the statutory provisions.
The state commissioner for information, Mr. Yusuph Olaniyonu who admitted that he did not know the mindset of the governor, nevertheless added that, as at the moment, the state government was not thinking in that direction.
“There is nothing like that in view. Not now, all the money coming to the state is directed to developmental projects”, he said.
The Nigeria Labour Congress in Ogun State was, however, quick to flay the new law enacted in Akwa Ibom.
The state chairman of the NLC, Akeem Ambali said: “Professors after 30 years collect N10 million, but they (governors) spend four years and go away with N100 million. They are selfish and greedy. It shows a disconnect between the leaders and the led.”
OYO
The Chairman, Nigeria Union of Pensioners, Oyo State, Alhaji Chief Azeez Ganiyu Biyawo, described the proposals in Akwa Ibom and similar states as absurd in a country where civil servants who serve for 35 years collapse and die on the queue for their entitlements or have their gratuities stolen and they are now talking about giving pension to someone who serves the state for just four years for the rest of his life.
“This kind of retrogressive bill should not be signed into law at all because those who are originally entitled to it according to the dictates of the constitution are being starved to death. May God save us from them”, he said.
EKITI
The new pension arrangement for the past governors and deputies in Ekiti State was passed by members of Ekiti State House of Assembly under the headship of the speaker , Hon. Adewale Omirin in December 2O12. The governor signed into law in March, 2013.
The new law modified the one put in place by the former governor of the state, Mr. Ayo Fayose during his regime
Vanguard gathered that the 2013 Pension Scheme for the ex-governors and their deputies does not make provision for those who were impeached nor removed by the court of competent jurisdiction.
This has made the beneficiaries to be limited to only two persons, Otunba Adeniyi Adebayo and his Deputy, Chief Paul Alabi, given that other past governors like Ayo Fayose left office under controversial circumstances, deemed to have been impeached and Engr Segun Oni ,removed by a court of competent jurisdiction are denied the privilege.
However, one time Deputy Governor of the state, Chief Paul Olatunde Alabi, who saluted the courage of the present government in the state for instituting a law that would take care of the welfare of the former leaders in the state
Alabi who recalled that during the regime of Oni that four former deputies including, Chiefs Akin Omoboriowo, Surv. Abiodun Aluko, himself and Mrs. Biodun Olujimi met Oni and they made case for such a gesture
He said Oni agreed that a pension should be paid to them, but expressed reservation that he would not like to give an impression that he was bribing former leaders who were in opposition parties.
Kaduna
Former elected governors of Kaduna State and their deputies are not among their counterparts in other states who would enjoy fat pension packages and sundry luxuries.
Vanguard findings showed that the Kaduna State House of Assembly (KDHA) has since passed into law a bill to stop the state’s former governors and deputy governors from using the state resources to fund their medical bills abroad.
KDHA then went on to stop furniture and office accommodation allowances for the former governors and deputy governors.
The law, which reads Pension and Gratuity (Governor and Deputy Governor) Amendment Law, 2013, runs against the proposal by the current governor of the state for the duo to enjoy free medical treatment in and outside the country with his/her immediate family members.
The Kaduna lawmakers also cut down on the size of the accommodation provision for the former governors and the number of staff
The Utility Allowance of the Executive Governor and the Deputy Governor after leaving office was also slashed from 30 per cent yearly basic salary to 10%.
Edo as a model
The Edo State House of Assembly on May 16th, 2007, passed a law entitled Provision for the Pension of Rights of the Governor and Deputy Governor of the state. This law was passed few weeks before Governor Lucky Igbinedion left office as Governor of Edo state. Provides for 100% pension for the governor at a rate similar to the salary of the incumbent office holder and for domestic staff among others for the former governor.
Earlier in 2004, a move by the lawmakers to include themselves in the pension plan for former governors stalled the passage of the bill as vociferous opposition from the public stopped them.
The incumbent Attorney General of Edo State and Commissioner for Justice, Mr Henry Idahagbon who asserted that the Edo state law is potent in an interview with Vanguard slammed the law as passed in Akwa Ibom State as he recommend Edo State as a model for other states.
“I believe the national cry generated by the law passed in Akwa Ibom State deserves to be condemned by all well-meaning Nigerians and I think it is a slap on the faces of the long suffering Nigerians.”
“While other governors are running up and down to see how to deliver the dividends of democracy to their people, others are looking for how to deliver the dividends of democracy to their pockets. So I recommend Edo State to other states as it is very, very reasonable. There is a minimum comfort that a person who has served in the high office of a governor should be entitled to when he leaves office.
And we all know the basic salaries of governors it probably not more than half a million and he gets half a million naira every month for life that is fair.”
Former governor of Edo state, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, said he received no pension until the inauguration of the Osarhiemen Osunbor administration. “We are one of the poorest in terms of what we get as pension. Our pension is consolidated.
The bill for our pension was not passed until the Igbinedion administration was going away so I suffered more than any of them. In other states a retiring governor is even supposed to have a house built for him. For ten years that the PDP was in power I never got a kobo because they said I was in opposition. I suffered all that until Osunbor’s administration came. Though the state is poor to compare with other states but Governor Adams Oshiomhole has been implementing it”.
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