Many governors have been paying the bogus pensions and other
emoluments of their predecessors and their deputies while still
owing workers in their states.
Saturday PUNCH learnt that the governors still pay their
predecessors regularly in spite of the drop in the allocation from the
Federation Accounts.
According to investigation by Saturday PUNCH, no fewer than two
former civilian governors and deputy governors are still alive in
many of the states.
Kogi State, for example, has two former governors and two deputy
governors. A source in the state Ministry of Finance, who spoke on
the condition of anonymity, told one of our correspondents that
former Governors Abubakar Audu; his deputy, Chief Patrick Adaba
(1999-2003); Alhaji Ibrahim Idris; his deputy, Mr. Philip Salawu
(2003-2012), are still getting their pension entitlements promptly.
However, civil servants in the state have yet to receive their April
salary because of a dispute between the state government and the
workers represented by the Nigeria Labour Congress and the Trade
Union Congress.
The state governor, Capt Idris Wada (retd.), had shortly before April
30 slashed salaries of workers on Grade Level 7 and above by 40
per cent.
But NLC rejected the development and asked the governor not to
pay the remaining 60 per cent as April salary for workers.
The Congress added that the workers would take the 60 per cent of
their salaries as a gift should the governor go ahead to pay it into
their bank accounts.
Consequently, the state government could not proceed to pay the
workers including commissioners and other political appointees.
Though local government authorities in the state have paid workers
up to April, Saturday PUNCH learnt that the workers were paid a
certain percentage of their salaries.
Only Okehi and Okene local government areas paid 60 per cent
while Adavi local government area paid 45 per cent. Other local
government authorities paid less. Ogori Magongo Local Government
Area paid 37 per cent while Ajaokuta Local Government Area paid
30 per cent.
Kwara State has no fewer than three former governors and three ex-
deputy governors, who also get their pension regularly.
Impeccable source said former Governor Cornelius Adebayo; his
deputy, Alhaji Oba Temi, (October to December 1983); former
Governor Shaaba Lafiagi (1992- 1993); a deputy governor, Simeon
Sayomi (1999 -2003); Senator Bukola Saraki; his deputy, Joel
Ogundeji (2003 -2011) were being paid their pension entitlements as
captured in the state’s pension laws for ex-governors and deputies.
Saraki’s deputy, Ogundeji, confirmed to one of our correspondents in
Ilorin during the week that he had been regularly and promptly
receiving his pension entitlements.
Our correspondent gathered that civil servants and secondary school
teachers had received their salaries up to date but primary school
teachers and junior secondary school teachers have yet to be paid
their April salary. It was also gathered that the local government
workers have yet to receive their March and April salaries.
Similarly, Dr. Ogbonnaya Onu was the governor of old Abia State
between 1992 and 1993, while Chief Orji Uzor Kalu was the governor
between 1999 and 2007. Of the three deputy governors that served
Orji, one is dead, one was impeached while the third one served out
with him till 2007.
According to investigation, the former governors also get their
pensions.
The state Commissioner of Finance, Dr. Philip Ntoo, who confirmed
the development to one of our correspondents in Umuahia, said, “It
is a statutory obligation and we have been living up to expectation
pending the availability of funds.”
Though the state government has consistently said that no worker in
the core civil service is being owed salary arrears, workers in the
parastatals complained of non-payment of salary arrears of
between three and six months.
Workers in the Abia State Universal Basic Education Board said they
were being owed for six months, while their counterparts in the
Secondary Education Management Board complained of non-
payment of four months’ salary arrears.
But the state government had claimed that the parastatals are
creations of the law, hence they should source for funds to make up
for their subventions to remain in business.
Saturday PUNCH furthers gathered that a former Rivers State
Governor, Dr. Peter Odili, and his deputy, Mr. Gabriel Toby, were
also being paid their monthly pension by the state government.
The state Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Chamberlain Peterside,
confirmed this, saying: “The former governors and deputy governors
are part of the pension payment and they have been getting their
pensions.”
Oyo State, which was created in 1976, has three civilian former
governors and many deputy governors. The former governors are
Omololu Olunloyo (October 1, 1983 – December 31, 1983), Rashidi
Ladoja (2003-2007), Adebayo Alao-Akala (January 2006-December
2006, 2007-2011).
The state Commissioner for Finance, Mr. Zaccheus Adelabu, said the
ex-public office holders were treated like other pensioners in the
state and were being paid their entitlements.
The Oyo State government presently owes the workers two month
salary.
Also in Akwa Ibom State, Obong Victor Attah was the governor
between 1999 and 2007. Attah had two deputies – Chris Ekpenyong
(1999 -2003) and Michael Udofia (2003 -2007).
On the issue of pension to former governors, Attah confirmed that
from the consolidated pay to former governors which include a
driver, a cook, two security men and a personal assistant and
himself, he receives a total of N1.3m every month.
Attah said, “There is pension for me and five staff which include the
driver, the cook, two security men and one personal assistant. The
total package for all of us is N1.3m per month. This is what I have
been receiving monthly. But what I cannot tell is the breakdown for
the amount for each category of staff.”
But former deputy governor Chris Ekpenyong declined comments on
the pension.
Meanwhile, the state civil servants have said that the state
government does not owe them.
Some of the workers, who spoke with one of our correspondents in
Uyo during the week, said that the state government pays their
salaries promptly.
The Chief Press Secretary to Head of Civil Service, Mr. John
Offiong, said that the Akwa Ibom State government does not owe its
workers.
Erstwhile Governor Achike Uzoma Udenwa and Mr. Ebere Udeagu
became governor and deputy governor of Imo State between 1999
and 2007. They served for two terms of eight years. Their
successors are Chief Ikedi Ohakim and his deputy, Mrs. Ada
Okwuonu, who served the state between 2007 and 2011.
Speaking with one of our correspondents on the phone, Udeagu said
that they had been receiving their pension until the last four months.
Governor Rochas Okorocha’s first deputy, Sir Jude Agbaso, is not
entitled to any pension because he was impeached in April, 2013.
Workers in the state are in deep pains over non-payment of salaries
for months. While some are owed four months.


http://www.punchng.com/news/states-pay-ex-govs-deputies-jumbo-pension-neglect-workers/

There was a country.

Wickedness!!!