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B N W: Biafra Nigeria World News |
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Edo may okay pensions for ex-governors, deputies, lawmakers
IF the bill recently passed by the Edo State House of Assembly is finally signed into law by Governor Lucky Igbinedion, then all former governors, their deputies and legislators will be entitled to pensions for life at a rate which will be stipulated by the law.
Tagged "Pension Rights of Elected Public Officers Law 2004," the controversial bill excludes all those removed from office as a result of impeachment, recall or any other legal means from the benefits.
Under the pension rates of governors, the enactment clearly stated that: "Any person who had held the office of Governor pursuant to the provision of section 2 of this law, shall be entitled to pension for life at a rate equivalent to 100 percent of his last annual salary in addition to two cars, two drivers, two cooks and two security officers".
Stressing that any car granted under the law shall be replaceable every five years, the legislators also stated that any person who had held the office of the deputy governor is entitled to a car, a driver, a cook and two security officers while the speaker shall be entitled to pension for life at a rate equivalent to 100 per cent of his last annual salary in addition to a car, a driver, a cook and a security officer. Same applies to the Deputy speaker.
For members of the Edo State House of Assembly, the members are entitled to pension for life at a rate, which is also equivalent to 100 percent of the salary of a current member of the state House of Assembly.
There are about 24 members currently in the state House of Assembly. In the last dispensation that ended last year, there were another 23 members while another 24 members were elected during the aborted third Republic. With two governors, Chief John Oyegun and incumbent Governor Lucky Igbinedion, the number of elected officers who are entitled to the pension stands at 74 and is raised to 76 if the name of the erstwhile deputy governors, Rev. Peter Obadan and incumbent Chief Michael Oghiadomhe are added.
In 2001, thousands of civil servants were prematurely retired without their gratuities and had to resort to demonstrations before the state government reluctantly paid them.
To ensure that there is money for the payment, which will likely run into several millions, the governor was mandated under the law to set up a consolidated fund for the purpose.
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