Abia State Stops Pension for Ex-Governors That Has Cost the State Millions
On Tuesday, March 19, 2024, the Abia State House of Assembly passed a bill to stop pensions for former governors and their deputies in the state.
The bill, titled “A Bill (H.A.B 11:) for a Law to Revoke The Abia State Governors and Deputy Governors Pensions Law No 4 of 2001 and for other Matters connected therewith,” was sponsored by Uchanna Okoro, the Majority Leader and member Representing Arochukwu Constituency.
According to the State’s pension law for former governors passed in 2001 during the administration of Orji Uzor Kalu, who now serves as a Senator, past governors and deputies are entitled to 100 percent of the annual salary that an incumbent governor/deputy receives. Also, former governors are entitled to cooks, stewards, drivers, gardeners, three police officers, and two operatives of the Department of State Services (DSS) who will be paid using state funds.
Based on data from the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission, Abia State governors earn a yearly salary of N7,782,967, while deputy governors receive N7,392,752. Based on these figures, the state has spent over N190 million on governors’ salaries since 1999 (excluding the most recent governor, Okezie Ikpeazu, whose term ended less than a year ago).
Also, the ex-governors are entitled to two vehicles worth N20 million each every four years.
From Sokoto, Gombe, Rivers, and Lagos State, Abia State is just one out of about 21 states that allow former governors to be on the payroll of the state as pensioners.
Sokoto, Nigeria’s poorest state, spends N200 million and N180 million respectively on its former governors and deputies every four years. Socio-Economic Rights And Accountability Project (SERAP), a legal and advocacy non-governmental organisation, said that former governors are entitled to an annual pay of N200 million, two official vehicles with chauffeurs, furniture allowance of 300 percent of basic salary replaceable every four years, an aide, a cook, under the Akwa Ibom Life Pension law.
Speaking on the passed bill, the speaker of the house, Emmanuel Emeruwa, said that it’ll help reduce the cost of governance once it’s signed into law by Alex Otti, the State Governor.
Otti, who defeated the ruling Peoples’ Democratic Party (PDP) in the 2023 Governorship election said in October 2023 that he has not taken a salary and won’t take it throughout his first tenure.
“The speaker reminded me that I have not taken a salary for 4 months, and I will not take it for four years. I have only one wife and 3 children and we can take care of ourselves,” he said.
