Recently, Lagos and Kwara State Governors revealed plans of approaching their respective State House of Assembly to repeal the law granting pensions to former governors and their deputies in the state. This is a welcome development and every governors in the country must follow suit.
We need to be frank with ourselves. The country is going through so much that there is barely money to run the affairs of the country. We are also experiencing difficulty in the economy of our country which has ultimately led to unemployment, underemployment, social vices and inflation in food price. Former Governors and their deputies are bearing an exerting pressure on national development with bogus pension payments and other entitlements draining billions of naira every year from development funds for the states.
In my opinion, paying these bogus pension and allowances is clearly a misplaced priority. It is a case of people who needs the money are not getting it while the rich gets richer at the expense of the poor who they were meant to serve. These people are lavished with a lot of humongous packages that dries up the coffers of the state. These allowances include amongst others; Vehicle renewal & maintenance, housing allowance & salaries, medical service, holiday trips abroad etc.
Let's get to some facts and figures regarding this issue. One of the major leading newspaper (The Vanguard) during their special report in January 23, 2017 revealed that over N37.367 billion was expended on servicing 47 former governors from 21 of the nation’s states in pension payments and provision of houses, staff and motor vehicles replaceable between three and four years.
It is funny enough that these past executives 'arm twist' their state house of assembly to help in the passing of these outrageous sums. In the case of former Edo Governor, Adams Oshiomole, he passed an obscene pension law to the range of 200 million and 100 million respectively for him and his deputy. This begs to answer if they were there to serve or loot us dry? It is time for the citizens to stay woke and end or halved the pensions these politicians are earning.
It is even more worrying that we have former Governors who are in the senate and still collect pensions from their respective state government. Where is the conscience? Unfortunately, the entitlements they enjoy are far more than what political office holders in developed & rich countries enjoy. More of why we would continue to be a developing country because we are patronising a misplaced priority.
Why should these pensions for former Governors and their deputies be stopped? This is quite simple, it will safe a lot of money for the state government that can be directed to vital sectors such as education, public safety, health care programs, youth and sport development.
As a concerned Nigerian, I pray that these Governors should repel the allowances of the past executives and these funds should be pumped into the economy. In fact, once these former executives hold an official position after their tenure ends, they should be stripped of any benefits they should get as being ex-governors. Our fight against corruption won't be complete if we don't stop this inhumane act. The people are suffering.
What are your thoughts about this?
SOURCE: https://www.operanewsapp.com/ng/en/share/detail?news_id=68582c9f0be6e90c1434313a651d4e55&news_entry_id=s63d26aca201113en_ng&open_type=tanscoded&request_id=news_ea6ef16a-d2f2-42a1-83ac-a5f0df7b5bb3&from=news