ON GOVERNOR SANWO-OLU TO PROHIBIT PENSION FOR EX-GOVERNORS AND DEPUTIES – A WELCOME DEVELOPMENT THAT ALL STATES ACROSS THE FEDERATION SHOULD EMULATE
November 13, 2020 | News
With reports that Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, while recently presenting the 2021 budget to the Lagos State House of Assembly, announced his intention to repeal the Public Office Holder (Payment of Pension Law 2007), which provides for payment of pension and other entitlements to former Governors and their Deputies,
ON GOVERNOR SANWO-OLU TO PROHIBIT PENSION FOR EX-GOVERNORS AND DEPUTIES – A WELCOME DEVELOPMENT THAT ALL STATES ACROSS THE FEDERATION SHOULD EMULATE
With reports that Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, while recently presenting the 2021 budget to the Lagos State House of Assembly, announced his intention to repeal the Public Office Holder (Payment of Pension Law 2007), which provides for payment of pension and other entitlements to former Governors and their Deputies, I must say that it is indeed a welcome development which all State Governors, particularly that of Delta State, should embrace and emulate without wasting time.
This is an issue I have been advocating for years now, and I am glad that the Lagos State Governor has initiated the step. While I strongly advise that the said Lagos State Governor should actually see this plan through, and make it a reality – not just saying it, but I also urge that all States across the country, including Delta State, should do same. I have reiterated the fact that Pensions should be strictly for Civil Service workers who have obtained the mandatory retirement age of service. A Governor and his Deputy, or a President and his Vice, are Public Office holders that are for short term service by election, or by military appointments. So, they deserve no pension when compared to civil servants that have spent at least 35 years in service.
More so, the amount of funds yearly allocated for the said pension of former Governors/Deputies, Presidents/Vice, are not only outrageously unreasonable, but can no longer be sustainable in the face of the economic challenges in the country.
To remind of the picture of what I am talking about, according to a tv programme The Advocate, anchored by Liborous Oshoma, he once noted that: “…former Governors get six new cars every 3 years. Even if he is opening a car shop, does this make sense? Deputy gets three or five cars every 3 years. Former Governor gets a house in Lagos and Abuja, or any place of his choice. While the Deputy gets a house in Lagos only. Free medical care for the Governor, his Deputy and their families for life. They are also entitled to cooks, stewards, gardeners and domestic staffs – all pensionable. Worst of all, 300% of annual basic salaries every two years as pension allowance for the Governor and his Deputy. Also, 100% of annual basic salaries as House Maintenance allowance – that is, the house we build, we still maintain it for them.
“Two DSS officials; one female officer of course for ‘Madam’ First Lady; and Eight Policemen. No wonder there are none to guard the rest of us. Deputy Governor gets one DSS operative, and two policemen. And then, listen this also; 25% of annual basic salaries for Personal Assistants (PAs), 30% of annual basic salaries as Car maintenance. So, those Six cars, we still maintain for them. It is part of what they have taken while in Office. 20% of annual basic salaries also as Utility allowance – no name. Pensionable drivers, no limit to the numbers. And finally, Severance benefits, like 300%. Despite all these, some of these former Governors still turned the Senate into their retirement homes. While others are Ministers – all drawing salaries in spite of their pensions. Unfortunately, the entitlements they enjoy are far more than what political office holders in developed and rich countries enjoy. More of why we will continue remaining a ‘developing country.’ You cannot close your eyes to this ugly trend and pretend to fight corruption. It is impossible...”
No reasonable or sensible Government that truly means well for its poor masses, would continue to allow this heartless trend, especially in the face of the growing poverty, suffering, and hardship daily faced by the Nigerian masses. All that money usually set aside for former Governors/Deputies and former Presidents/Vice; should be rechanneled and used to pay Nigerian Pensioners who have retired for years without the payments of their gratuities. That is how I see it.
Zik Gbemre.
November 13, 2020.
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes
With reports that Governor of Lagos State, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, while recently presenting the 2021 budget to the Lagos State House of Assembly, announced his intention to repeal the Public Office Holder (Payment of Pension Law 2007), which provides for payment of pension and other entitlements to former Governors and their Deputies, I must say that it is indeed a welcome development which all State Governors, particularly that of Delta State, should embrace and emulate without wasting time.
This is an issue I have been advocating for years now, and I am glad that the Lagos State Governor has initiated the step. While I strongly advise that the said Lagos State Governor should actually see this plan through, and make it a reality – not just saying it, but I also urge that all States across the country, including Delta State, should do same. I have reiterated the fact that Pensions should be strictly for Civil Service workers who have obtained the mandatory retirement age of service. A Governor and his Deputy, or a President and his Vice, are Public Office holders that are for short term service by election, or by military appointments. So, they deserve no pension when compared to civil servants that have spent at least 35 years in service.
More so, the amount of funds yearly allocated for the said pension of former Governors/Deputies, Presidents/Vice, are not only outrageously unreasonable, but can no longer be sustainable in the face of the economic challenges in the country.
To remind of the picture of what I am talking about, according to a tv programme The Advocate, anchored by Liborous Oshoma, he once noted that: “…former Governors get six new cars every 3 years. Even if he is opening a car shop, does this make sense? Deputy gets three or five cars every 3 years. Former Governor gets a house in Lagos and Abuja, or any place of his choice. While the Deputy gets a house in Lagos only. Free medical care for the Governor, his Deputy and their families for life. They are also entitled to cooks, stewards, gardeners and domestic staffs – all pensionable. Worst of all, 300% of annual basic salaries every two years as pension allowance for the Governor and his Deputy. Also, 100% of annual basic salaries as House Maintenance allowance – that is, the house we build, we still maintain it for them.
“Two DSS officials; one female officer of course for ‘Madam’ First Lady; and Eight Policemen. No wonder there are none to guard the rest of us. Deputy Governor gets one DSS operative, and two policemen. And then, listen this also; 25% of annual basic salaries for Personal Assistants (PAs), 30% of annual basic salaries as Car maintenance. So, those Six cars, we still maintain for them. It is part of what they have taken while in Office. 20% of annual basic salaries also as Utility allowance – no name. Pensionable drivers, no limit to the numbers. And finally, Severance benefits, like 300%. Despite all these, some of these former Governors still turned the Senate into their retirement homes. While others are Ministers – all drawing salaries in spite of their pensions. Unfortunately, the entitlements they enjoy are far more than what political office holders in developed and rich countries enjoy. More of why we will continue remaining a ‘developing country.’ You cannot close your eyes to this ugly trend and pretend to fight corruption. It is impossible...”
No reasonable or sensible Government that truly means well for its poor masses, would continue to allow this heartless trend, especially in the face of the growing poverty, suffering, and hardship daily faced by the Nigerian masses. All that money usually set aside for former Governors/Deputies and former Presidents/Vice; should be rechanneled and used to pay Nigerian Pensioners who have retired for years without the payments of their gratuities. That is how I see it.
Zik Gbemre.
November 13, 2020.
We Mobilize Others To Fight For Individual Causes As If Those Were Our Causes