Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq.
Kwara State Governor, Abdulrahman Abdulrazaq, on Friday
announced plans by the state government to abolish the payment of
pension packages to former governors and former deputy governors in
the state.
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The announcement comes three days after Governor Babajide
Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State informed lawmakers in the State House of
Assembly about his administration’s effort to stop the pension of
former governors and deputies in the south-western state.
In a statement issued in Ilorin, Governor Abdulrazaq’s Chief
Press Secretary, Rafiu Ajakaye, confirmed that the governor would
send a bill to the State House of Assembly next week, requesting
the lawmakers to immediately repeal the law awarding pension
packages to former governors and deputies in Kwara.
He explained that the governor’s decision was in line with his
campaign mantra and proof that he recognised himself as a product
of democracy.
READ ALSO: Sanwo-Olu Plans To Scrap Pension For
Ex-Lagos Governors, Deputies
“The governor has listened to voices of the majority of the
citizens opposing the pension law for former governors and deputy
governors.
“As representatives of the people, the lawmakers would exercise
their discretion to call a public hearing on the topic to further
harvest wider opinions on the topic,” Ajakaye said.
He added, “However, the governor feels it is time for the law as
it is to give way. He would rather the state commits the scarce
public funds to tackling the question of poverty and youth
unemployment.”
Sanwo-Olu, speaks during a budget presentation ceremony held at the
legislative chamber of the Lagos State House of Assembly on
November 10, 2020.
On Tuesday, Governor Sanwo-Olu told the Lagos lawmakers that the
government would send a draft executive bill to the House for the
repeal of the Public Office Holder (Payment of Pension Law 2007),
but no specific date was given.
The law provides for payment of pension and other entitlements
to former governors and their deputies.
The Lagos governor had explained that the move was part of
innovative ways of keeping the costs of governance at a minimum
while engendering a spirit of selflessness in public service.
He added that the decision became necessary amid the dwindling
revenues and the appurtenant inflationary growth rates in the
state.