A Non-Governmental Organisation, Socio-Economic Rights and
Accountability Project (SERAP), has urged Senate President, Bukola
Saraki, to use his political position and influence to sponsor a
resolution and prevail on Senators to stop double pay for public
office holders.
Mr Saraki on Wednesday, disclosed how he inspired the passing of
the bill by the Kwara State House of Assembly to suspend payment of
pensions to former governors and their deputies when they hold a
public office and called on other state assemblies to take a cue
from Kwara and pass similar laws in their states.
This followed SERAP’s request to the Senate President on
Tuesday, the organization said, urging him to “use his leadership
position to sponsor a resolution in the Senate that would call on
other states to abolish payment of double emoluments to
ex-governors and their deputies.”
“Given the strong influence of senators on their states, we also
urge the Senate President to now build on his public statement to
state assemblies by immediately taking steps to sponsor a
resolution at the Senate on the matter,” SERAP said in a statement
on Thursday, signed by its deputy director, Timothy Adewale.
“The abolition of such laws is a necessary first step towards
delivering on the constitutional promise of equal protection and
equal benefit of the law for a distressingly large number of
Nigerians. Otherwise, public officials will remain seriously out of
touch with a major source of poverty and discrimination in the
country.”
In January, a Federal High Court in Lagos ruled that SERAP “has
sufficient interest to bring its suit to stop former governors and
now serving senators and ministers from receiving double pay and
life pensions, and to seek recovery of over N40bn of public funds
unduly received by these public officers.”
“Justice Oluremi Oguntoyinbo stated this while granting leave in
the suit number FHC/L/CS/1497/17 filed last year by SERAP to compel
the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mr.
Abubakar Malami, SAN to “challenge the legality of states’ laws
that allow former governors who are now senators and ministers to
enjoy governors’ emoluments while drawing normal salaries and
allowances in their new political offices and to identify those
involved and seek full recovery of public funds from them.”
SERAP’s letter to Malami read in part: “According to our
information, those who reportedly receive double emoluments and
large severance benefits from their states include: Rabiu Musa
Kwankwaso (Kano); Kabiru Gaya (Kano); Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom);
Theodore Orji (Abia); Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa); Sam Egwu
(Ebonyi); Shaaba Lafiagi (Kwara); Joshua Dariye (Plateau), and
Jonah Jang (Plateau). Others include: Ahmed Sani Yarima (Zamfara);
Danjuma Goje (Gombe); Bukar Abba Ibrahim (Yobe); Adamu Aliero
(Kebbi); George Akume (Benue); and Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers).”
Ex Governors’ package in some states
Zamfara
The group said Governor Yari will be sending a powerful message
to his colleagues by starting a campaign against the double pay
menace.
“Governor Yari should show leadership by example by starting the
campaign within the Governors’ Forum to abolish double emoluments
laws from his own Zamfara State, which has passed laws allowing
former governors to receive pension for life; two personal staff;
two vehicles replaceable every four years; two drivers, free
medical for the former governors and deputies and their immediate
families in Nigeria or abroad; a 4-bedroom house in Zamfara and an
office; free telephone and 30 days paid vacation outside
Nigeria.”
Lagos
“Under the Lagos Pension Law a former governor will enjoy the
following benefits for life: Two houses, one in Lagos and another
in Abuja estimated to cost between N500m and N700m. Others are six
brand new cars every three years; furniture allowance of 300
percent of annual salary every two years, and a close to N2.5m as
pension (about N30m pension annually); free medicals including for
his immediate families; 10 percent house maintenance; 30 percent
car maintenance; 10 percent entertainment; 20 percent utility; and
several domestic staff.”
Rivers
“In Rivers, state law provides 100 percent of annual basic
salaries for ex-governor and deputy, one residential house for
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; two cars for the deputy every four
years; 300 percent of annual basic salary every four years for
furniture; 10 percent of annual basic salary for house
maintenance.”
Akwa Ibom
“In Akwa Ibom, state law provides for N200m annual pay to ex
governors, deputies; pension for life; a new official car and
utility-vehicle every four years; one personal aide and provision
of adequate security; a cook, chauffeurs and security guards for
the governor at a sum not exceeding N5m per month and N2.5m for the
deputy governor; free medical services for governor and spouse
totaling N100m for the governor per annum and N50m for the deputy
governor; a five-bedroom mansion in Abuja and Akwa Ibom; and
allowance of 300 percent of annual basic salary for the deputy
governor; 300 percent of annual basic salary every four years and
severance gratuity.”
Kano
“Similarly, the Kano State Pension Rights of Governor and Deputy
Governor Law 2007 provides for 100 percent of annual basic salaries
for former governor and deputy; furnished and equipped office; a
6-bedroom house; well-furnished 4-bedroom for deputy, plus an
office; free medical treatment along with immediate families within
and outside Nigeria where necessary; two drivers; and a provision
for a 30- day vacation within and outside Nigeria.”
Gombe
“In Gombe State, there is N300 million executive pension
benefits for the ex-governors. In Kwara State, the 2010 law gives a
former governor two cars and a security car replaceable every three
years; a well-furnished 5-bedroom duplex; 300 per cent of his
salary as furniture allowance; five personal staff; three State
Security Services; free medical care for the governor and the
deputy; 30 percent of salary for car maintenance; 20 per cent for
utility; 10 percent for entertainment; 10 per cent for house
maintenance.”
Sokoto
“In Sokoto State, former governors and deputy governors are to
receive N200m and N180m respectively being monetization for other
entitlements which include domestic aides, residence and vehicles
that could be renewed after every four years.”
(Details of States’ payment as stated by SERAP)
Some Public Officers deny receiving double pay
According to SERAP, following the letter it wrote to Mr Malami
on this issue, the Senate President, last year, told the News
Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja that he wrote a letter to
the state government to stop the payment of the pension “the moment
I saw that SERAP allegation.” He said, “No, I’m not collecting
pension; the moment I saw that allegation, I wrote to my state to
stop my pension.”
So far, Kayode Fayemi, Minister of Mines and Steel Development
and his counterparts in the Ministry of Labour and Employment,
Senator Chris Ngige, and Minister of Power, Works and Housing
Babatunde Fashola have denied ever receiving double payments and
retirement benefits as former governors in addition to other roles
in public office, the group said.
A Non-Governmental Organisation, Socio-Economic Rights and
Accountability Project (SERAP), has urged Senate President, Bukola
Saraki, to use his political position and influence to sponsor a
resolution and prevail on Senators to stop double pay for public
office holders.
Mr Saraki on Wednesday, disclosed how he inspired the passing of
the bill by the Kwara State House of Assembly to suspend payment of
pensions to former governors and their deputies when they hold a
public office and called on other state assemblies to take a cue
from Kwara and pass similar laws in their states.
This followed SERAP’s request to the Senate President on
Tuesday, the organization said, urging him to “use his leadership
position to sponsor a resolution in the Senate that would call on
other states to abolish payment of double emoluments to
ex-governors and their deputies.”
“Given the strong influence of senators on their states, we also
urge the Senate President to now build on his public statement to
state assemblies by immediately taking steps to sponsor a
resolution at the Senate on the matter,” SERAP said in a statement
on Thursday, signed by its deputy director, Timothy Adewale.
“The abolition of such laws is a necessary first step towards
delivering on the constitutional promise of equal protection and
equal benefit of the law for a distressingly large number of
Nigerians. Otherwise, public officials will remain seriously out of
touch with a major source of poverty and discrimination in the
country.”
In January, a Federal High Court in Lagos ruled that SERAP “has
sufficient interest to bring its suit to stop former governors and
now serving senators and ministers from receiving double pay and
life pensions, and to seek recovery of over N40bn of public funds
unduly received by these public officers.”
“Justice Oluremi Oguntoyinbo stated this while granting leave in
the suit number FHC/L/CS/1497/17 filed last year by SERAP to compel
the Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Mr.
Abubakar Malami, SAN to “challenge the legality of states’ laws
that allow former governors who are now senators and ministers to
enjoy governors’ emoluments while drawing normal salaries and
allowances in their new political offices and to identify those
involved and seek full recovery of public funds from them.”
SERAP’s letter to Malami read in part: “According to our
information, those who reportedly receive double emoluments and
large severance benefits from their states include: Rabiu Musa
Kwankwaso (Kano); Kabiru Gaya (Kano); Godswill Akpabio (Akwa Ibom);
Theodore Orji (Abia); Abdullahi Adamu (Nasarawa); Sam Egwu
(Ebonyi); Shaaba Lafiagi (Kwara); Joshua Dariye (Plateau), and
Jonah Jang (Plateau). Others include: Ahmed Sani Yarima (Zamfara);
Danjuma Goje (Gombe); Bukar Abba Ibrahim (Yobe); Adamu Aliero
(Kebbi); George Akume (Benue); and Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers).”
Ex Governors’ package in some states
Zamfara
The group said Governor Yari will be sending a powerful message
to his colleagues by starting a campaign against the double pay
menace.
“Governor Yari should show leadership by example by starting the
campaign within the Governors’ Forum to abolish double emoluments
laws from his own Zamfara State, which has passed laws allowing
former governors to receive pension for life; two personal staff;
two vehicles replaceable every four years; two drivers, free
medical for the former governors and deputies and their immediate
families in Nigeria or abroad; a 4-bedroom house in Zamfara and an
office; free telephone and 30 days paid vacation outside
Nigeria.”
Lagos
“Under the Lagos Pension Law a former governor will enjoy the
following benefits for life: Two houses, one in Lagos and another
in Abuja estimated to cost between N500m and N700m. Others are six
brand new cars every three years; furniture allowance of 300
percent of annual salary every two years, and a close to N2.5m as
pension (about N30m pension annually); free medicals including for
his immediate families; 10 percent house maintenance; 30 percent
car maintenance; 10 percent entertainment; 20 percent utility; and
several domestic staff.”
Rivers
“In Rivers, state law provides 100 percent of annual basic
salaries for ex-governor and deputy, one residential house for
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; two cars for the deputy every four
years; 300 percent of annual basic salary every four years for
furniture; 10 percent of annual basic salary for house
maintenance.”
Akwa Ibom
“In Akwa Ibom, state law provides for N200m annual pay to ex
governors, deputies; pension for life; a new official car and
utility-vehicle every four years; one personal aide and provision
of adequate security; a cook, chauffeurs and security guards for
the governor at a sum not exceeding N5m per month and N2.5m for the
deputy governor; free medical services for governor and spouse
totaling N100m for the governor per annum and N50m for the deputy
governor; a five-bedroom mansion in Abuja and Akwa Ibom; and
allowance of 300 percent of annual basic salary for the deputy
governor; 300 percent of annual basic salary every four years and
severance gratuity.”
Kano
“Similarly, the Kano State Pension Rights of Governor and Deputy
Governor Law 2007 provides for 100 percent of annual basic salaries
for former governor and deputy; furnished and equipped office; a
6-bedroom house; well-furnished 4-bedroom for deputy, plus an
office; free medical treatment along with immediate families within
and outside Nigeria where necessary; two drivers; and a provision
for a 30- day vacation within and outside Nigeria.”
Gombe
“In Gombe State, there is N300 million executive pension
benefits for the ex-governors. In Kwara State, the 2010 law gives a
former governor two cars and a security car replaceable every three
years; a well-furnished 5-bedroom duplex; 300 per cent of his
salary as furniture allowance; five personal staff; three State
Security Services; free medical care for the governor and the
deputy; 30 percent of salary for car maintenance; 20 per cent for
utility; 10 percent for entertainment; 10 per cent for house
maintenance.”
Sokoto
“In Sokoto State, former governors and deputy governors are to
receive N200m and N180m respectively being monetization for other
entitlements which include domestic aides, residence and vehicles
that could be renewed after every four years.”
(Details of States’ payment as stated by SERAP)
Some Public Officers deny receiving double pay
According to SERAP, following the letter it wrote to Mr Malami
on this issue, the Senate President, last year, told the News
Agency of Nigeria (NAN) Forum in Abuja that he wrote a letter to
the state government to stop the payment of the pension “the moment
I saw that SERAP allegation.” He said, “No, I’m not collecting
pension; the moment I saw that allegation, I wrote to my state to
stop my pension.”
So far, Kayode Fayemi, Minister of Mines and Steel Development
and his counterparts in the Ministry of Labour and Employment,
Senator Chris Ngige, and Minister of Power, Works and Housing
Babatunde Fashola have denied ever receiving double payments and
retirement benefits as former governors in addition to other roles
in public office, the group said.