by Victor Ayeni
I hereby request all serving senators and ministers collecting any form of pension from government at any level to renounce it now!
I was reading a news report just now. I saw that there are about 21 senators currently receiving pensions from government as ex-governors and deputy governors.
The current senators who once served as governors are:
- Bukola Saraki of Kwara
- Rabiu Musa Kwankwaso of Kano
- Kabiru Gaya of Kano
- Godswill Akpabio of Akwa Ibom
- Theodore Orji of Abia
- Abdullahi Adamu of Nasarawa
- Sam Egwu of Ebonyi
- Shaaba Lafiagi of Kwara
- Joshua Dariye of Plateau
- Jonah Jang of Plateau
- Aliyu Magatakarda Wamakko of Sokoto
- Ahmed Sani Yarima of Zamfara
- Danjuma Goje of Gombe
- Bukar Abba Ibrahim of Yobe
- Adamu Aliero of Kebbi
- George Akume of Benue and
- Isiaka Adeleke of Osun
The former deputy governors in the Senate are Ms. Biodun Olujimi of Ekiti and Enyinaya Harcourt Abaribe of Abia. Danladi Abubakar Sani served as the acting governor of Taraba state.
Many former governors are also in Buhari’s cabinet as ministers. These include: Ngige, Fayemi, Amaechi and Fashola (SAN).
In Akwa Ibom State, the ex governors and deputy governors receive pension equivalent to the salaries of the incumbent. The package also includes a new official car and a utility vehicle every four years; one personal aide; a cook, chauffeurs and security guards for the governor at a sum not exceeding N5 million per month and N2.5 million for his deputy governor.
In Rivers, the law provides 100 percent of annual basic salaries for the ex-governor and deputy, one residential house for the former governor “anywhere of his choice in Nigeria”; one residential house anywhere in Rivers for the deputy, three cars for the ex-governor every four years and two cars for the deputy every four years.
In Lagos, a former governor will get two houses, one in Lagos and another in Abuja, estimated at N500 million in Lagos and N700 million in Abuja. He also receives six new cars to be replaced every three years; a furniture allowance of 300 percent of annual salary to be paid every two years, and a N30 million pension annually for life.
This is the reality for all the 21 ex governors and deputy governors who are currently serving as senators. This same is also true of ex governors who are now serving as Ministers.
Now, I ask:
How many years did these guys serve their states as governors and deputy governors? Is it more than 8 years? Is that a reason to be entitled to pensions for life? Even if they are entitled to pension for life, must it be so outrageous?
As if that is not enough: HOW on earth can any public servant with conscience collect salaries and allowances as a senator or minister, and still have the audacity to claim pensions equivalent to the salaries of a serving governor in Nigeria?
Nigerians must say no to serving senators and ministers drawing pensions as ex-governors!!!
Once you are elected a senator or appointed a minister, you must forfeit any pension accruing to you from government at any level until you vacate office. This should also apply to senators collecting military pensions like former Senate President David Mark.
Let’s say no to pensions for serving government officials!
Victor Ayeni is a lecturer. This article is culled from Newsroom.ng
The opinions expressed in this article are solely those of the author.
