By Emmanuel Aziken, Political Editor &
Gbenga Oke
LAGOS — President-elect, General
Muhammadu Buhari (retd), is to lead a
campaign to repeal the pension laws for
governors enacted by many states of the
federation, Vanguard has learnt.
The proposal by the incoming president is
based on what sources close to him affirm as
the incongruity of the laws under the
country’s socio-economic environment and
also, as a way of demonstrating moral
leadership from the top.
Majority of the nation’s 36 state Houses of
Assembly have enacted generous pension
entitlements for governors that in many cases
provide 100 per cent pay for the incumbent
governors buildings, generous medical
allowances for them and their family members
and annual holiday provisions, all of which are
to last for life. Provisions in the pension
allowances are also made for staff, security
and vehicles that are renewable every three or
four years.
Buhari’s inclination towards a review of the
pension for former governors was first publicly
declared few days to the presidential election
at the All Progressives Congress, APC, retreat
in Owerri, Imo State.
It’s scandalous
A source conversant with the development
disclosed that Buhari told the governors that
there was no way Nigeria could survive under
the financial weight of the pensions that had
been earmarked for governors. He was said to
have described the pension laws as enacted
by states controlled by APC and PDP
governors as scandalous.
According to the source, “he was very blunt
about it and said that it was something that
was going to be done immediately, especially
because it is not something that can be
sustained.
“The feeling was that not only was it wrong
and morally unconscionable, but that it was
not something that should be encouraged, and
he was appealing to them that it should be
changed.”
However, the response of the governors, who
were present at the retreat, was not
immediately given.
It’s a welcome proposal —Keyamo
The development was, yesterday, welcomed by
leading Lagos lawyer, Festus Keyamo, who
described it as a fantastic proposal but
disclosed that it was something that could,
however, only be accomplished through moral
suasion.
“Fantastic, fantastic. It is a very welcome
proposal,” the Lagos lawyer, who backed
General Buhari against President Goodluck
Jonathan in last month’s presidential election
said.
He, however, said the proposal was something
that Buhari could only effect through moral
suasion as the pension acts were enacted by
state Houses of Assembly.
The crave for financial safety out of office was
recently also extended to the legislature after
the Lagos State House of Assembly passed
pension laws to guarantee generous pension
entitlements with proposals for former
presiding officers of the house.
States that have passed the law
Many states of the federation had steadily
been passing the law since return to civil rule.
States like Lagos, Edo, Gombe, Oyo, and Rivers
have passed the law, through which several
former governors are already drawing
applicable benefits, which in some cases are
100 per cent of what the incumbent is earning,
while in others, some benefits in the pension
laws are as high as 300 per cent of what
obtains in some states.
100% of basic salary in Lagos
The Lagos State Governor and Deputy
Governor Pensions Law of 2007 provides that
“a former governor and family (spouse and
children both married and unmarried) are
entitled to free medical treatment which is not
capped. Another highlight is that the ex-
governor is entitled to a cook, steward,
gardener and other domestic staff who are
pensionable.
The benefits:
Annual Basic Salary: 100% of annual basic
salaries of the incumbent governor and
deputy.
Accommodation: One residential house in
Lagos and another in FCT for the former
governor; one residential house in Lagos for
the deputy.
Transport: Three cars, two backup cars and
one pilot car for the ex-governor every three
years; two cars, two backup cars and one pilot
car for the deputy governor every three years.
Furniture: 300 per cent of annual basic salary
every two years.
House maintenance: 10 per cent of annual
basic salary.
Domestic staff: Cook, steward, gardener and
other domestic staff (no limit) who shall be
pensionable.
Medical: Free medical treatment for ex-
governor and deputy and members of their
families (not just spouses).
Security: Two DSS operatives, one female
officer, eight policemen (four each for house
and personal security) for the ex-governor;
one SSS operative and two policemen (one
each for house and personal security) for the
deputy. PA: 25% of annual basic salary.
Car maintenance: 30% of annual basic salary.
Entertainment: 10% of annual basic salary.
Utility: 20% of annual basic salary.
Drivers: Pensionable (no limit to number of
drivers).
Severance gratuity: Not specified.
100% of basic salary in Kwara
The law stipulated that qualified former
governors and their deputies be paid pension
for life, without other perks like
accommodation, cars, etc.
The law was reviewed in 2010 by Bukola
Saraki, a former governor of the state and a
serving senator, who with the support of the
state House of Assembly imposed outrageous
raises on all the benefits.
The 2010 law gives a former governor two cars
and a security car, replaceable every three
years. The governor is also entitled to a “well-
furnished 5-bedroom duplex,” furniture
allowance of 300 per cent of his salary (which
totals over N6 million).
The law also gives the governor five personal
staff paid for by the state, eight policemen,
three DSS operatives (of which one must be a
female), free medicals for the governor and the
deputy.
Other entitlements are 30 per cent of salary for
car maintenance, 20 per cent for utility, 10 per
cent for entertainment, 10 per cent for house
maintenance.
100% of basic salary in Rivers
The Rivers pension law was first approved in
2003 by former governor, Peter Odili, having
been passed by a state assembly headed by
the present governor, Chibuike Amaechi as
speaker.
The 2003 pension law provides pension for life
for governors and deputies, defining “pension”
as embodying annual terminal basic salary,
annual transport allowance, annual rent
subsidy, annual utility allowance,
entertainment allowance, domestic staff of not
more than four.
Like Lagos, the new law gives the former
governor a house in Rivers State and anywhere
in Nigeria. The former governor is also entitled
to pension for life at the rate of the governor’s
basic salary, 300 per cent of salary for
furniture paid every four years, three cars every
four years, free medical and 10 per cent for
house maintenance.
The law gives the former governor a security
detail comprising two DSS operatives, four
police officers, 30 per cent for car
maintenance, 10 per cent entertainment, 20
per cent utility and several domestic staff.
100% of basic salary in Edo
The Edo State House of Assembly on May 16,
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.
It provides for 100 per cent 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.
300% of annual salary in Oyo
The Oyo State Pension Law 2004 provides that
the Governor and Deputy Governor after
leaving office shall be entitled to Pension for
life at a rate equivalent to the annual salary of
the incumbent Governor or Deputy Governor.
Furniture Allowance of 300 per cent of the
annual basic salary, Leave Allowance of 10
per cent of annual basic salary and severance
allowance of 300 per cent of the annual basic
salary.

seconded

Thirded

Make it rain

Hmmmm...lets see how this goes.

na hm sabi

This is the change we fought for!

I see paradigm shift.




I see a new Nigeria.




God bless Nigeria.

hmmmm so much work for the incoming President to make this country favourable for the citizens. I pray may the lord Almighty guide him through.

op ur source!