Fredrick Nwabufo
If you think being a governor is very rewarding, wait
until you become an ex-governor ─ you
instantly become a state liability for doing virtually nothing. You
continue to collect salaries called pensions; you get new cars
every now and then; your medical bills are taken care of for life;
you are entitled to a full complement of domestic staff; and an
untold world of goodies.
The Governors and Deputy Governors Pension Law 2014 recently
passed by Akwa Ibom State house of assembly has opened the eyes of
Nigerians to what ex-governors and ex-deputy governors are
enjoying. The law has generated so much controversy and
outrage, forcing Governor Godswill Akpabio to propose an
amendment which the state house of assembly has agreed to
effect.
But what is happening in other states of the federation? In the
first part of a special report on ex-governors’ pensions, TheCable
dissects the provisions in three states: Akwa Ibom, Lagos and
Rivers.
Akwa Ibom: N100m for medical
The law in Akwa Ibom, which was first passed in 1998,
provides free medical treatment for ex-governors, their spouses,
ex-deputy governors and their spouses. Until the controversial
amendment that was done in April, there was no cap for the
expenses. The law said “free medical treatment”. In effect, an
ex-governor could spend N500 million or more on medical per year.
With the amendment, however, a former governor and spouse could not
spend more than N100 million a year, and a former deputy and spouse
a maximum of N30 million. Widows/widowers of former governors are
entitled to N12 million a year, while those of deputy governors
would get N6 million.
THE BENEFITS
Annual Basic Salary: 100% of annual basic
salaries of the incumbent governor and deputy.
Accommodation: One house not below 5-bed
maisonette in either Abuja or Akwa Ibom for the former governor;
500% annual basic for the deputy.
Transport: One car and one utility car
every four years for ex-governor and deputy.
Furniture: 300% of annual basic salary every
four years.
House maintenance: Nil.
Domestic staff: Amount not above N5
million for ex-governor and N2.5 million for ex-deputy to employ
cook, chauffeurs and security.
Medical: Free treatment and spouse not
exceeding N100 million per year for ex-governor; N30 million per
deputy (this provision will soon be reverted to “free” without
limit following outcry).
Security: “Adequate” (not specified).
PA: One.
Car maintenance: 300% of annual basic
salary.
Entertainment: 100% of annual basic salary.
Utility: 100% of annual basic salary.
Drivers: Amount not above N5 million for
ex-governor and N2.5 million for ex-deputy to employ cook,
chauffeurs and security.
Severance gratuity: 300% annual basic
salary.
Lagos: 6 new cars every 3 years, houses in Lagos,
FCT
The Lagos State Governor and Deputy Governor Pensions Law of
2007 provides one of the most lucrative pensions in the federation.
The highlight is that the former governor is entitled to six new
cars every three years and a house in Lagos and another in Abuja.
Conservatively, a house in Lagos will cost N500 million and one in
Abuja N700 million. The former governor and family (spouse and
children ─ both married and unmarried) are entitled
to free medical which is not capped. Another highlight is that the
ex-governor is entitled to a cook, steward, gardener and other
domestic staff who are pensionable.
THE BENEFITS
Annual Basic Salary: 100% of annual basic
salaries of the incumbent governor and deputy.
Accommodation: One residential house in
Lagos and another in FCT for the former governor; one residential
house in Lagos for the deputy.
Transport: Three cars, two back-up cars
and one pilot car for the ex-governor every three years; two cars,
two back-up cars and one pilot car for the deputy every three
years.
Furniture: 300% of annual basic salary every
two years.
House maintenance: 10% of annual basic
salary.
Domestic staff: Cook, steward, gardener
and other domestic staff (no limit) who shall be pensionable.
Medical: Free medical treatment for ex-governor
and deputy and members of their families (not just spouses).
Security: Two SSS operatives, one female
officer, eight policemen (four each for house and personal
security) for the ex-governor; one SSS operative and two policemen
(one each for house and personal security) for the deputy.
PA: 25% of annual basic salary.
Car maintenance: 30% of annual basic
salary.
Entertainment: 10% of annual basic salary.
Utility: 20% of annual basic salary.
Drivers: Pensionable (no limit to number of
drivers).
Severance gratuity: Not specified.
Rivers: 3 new cars every 4 years
The Rivers State Pensions for Governor and Deputy Governor
was passed in 2012. For all the wealth of the state, the conditions
are a bit modest. A former governor is entitled to just one house
“anywhere in Nigeria” and three new cars every four years. There
will be free medical care (no cap) for the former governor and
deputy and their families ─ which cover both married
and unmarried children. Interestingly, like Lagos, there will be a
cook, steward and gardener but unlike Lagos, they are not
pensionable.
THE BENEFITS
Annual Basic Salary: 100% of annual basic
salaries of the incumbent governor and deputy.
Accommodation: One residential house for
former governor “anywhere of his choice in Nigeria”; one
residential house anywhere in Rivers for the deputy.
Transport: Three cars for the ex-governor
every four years; two cars for the deputy every four years.
Furniture: 300% of annual basic salary every
four years “en bloc”.
House maintenance: 10% of annual basic
salary.
Domestic staff: Cook, steward, gardener
and other domestic staff (no limit) who shall be
non-pensionable.
Medical: Free medical treatment for ex-governor
and deputy and members of their families (not just spouses and no
cap).
Security: Two SSS operatives, four policemen
(two each for house and personal security) for the ex-governor; one
SSS operative and two policemen (one each for house and personal
security).
PA: 25% of annual basic salary.
Car maintenance: 30% of annual basic
salary.
Entertainment: 10% of annual basic salary.
Utility: 20% of annual basic salary.
Drivers: Non-pensionable (no limit to number of
drivers).
Severance gratuity: Not specified.