Lagos Assembly Cuts Ex-Governors’ Pensions By 50%

*Expunges clause stipulating provision of houses in Abuja,
Lagos for ex-govs

The Lagos State House of Assembly on Thursday approved the
report of its committee on establishment which recommended the
reduction of pensions of former governors and other affected
officials by 50 percent.

The committee also expunged the provision of houses in Abuja and
Lagos for former governors as stipulated in an earlier law operated
by the state.

The Speaker of the House, Dr. Mudashiru Obasa, suggested that
former governors should get two vehicles (a car and a van) instead
of three as recommended by the committee.

He also suggested that the amended bill should provide that the
cars be changed every four years instead of the three years
recommended by the report.

The report had suggested that a reduction in the number of
vehicles to be made available to former governors and their
deputies.

While some of the lawmakers, at plenary, had suggested for an
upward review of the pension for the affected public office holders
by 75 percent, others urged that the pension remain as stipulated
in the old law.

However, Obasa argued that it should be left at 50 percent,
especially as the report had recommended the removal of houses and
reduced other benefits.

He recalled the recent murder of the President of Haiti and said
it was necessary to secure the lives of the former office
holders.

“By virtue of my office, I have seen former Speakers who we just
had to intervene in their lives because of the situations they
found themselves outside office. We have also seen former governors
in a very bad situation,” he said.

Obasa noted the argument of his colleagues that the projected
downward review of the pension for the former governors and others
could also be affected by inflation and other economic
considerations, but reminded that the House must meet the wishes of
the people, one of which is a cut in the cost of governance.

“There is no argument, we must realise that this is democracy
and it is all about the people. We are here because of the people.
When we represent people, it is good for us to listen to them as
well.

“We must realise that we would always go back to the people for
support. So when we hearken to their agitations and reduce what
exist, it shows that we listen,” Obasa told his colleagues adding
that his suggestion for further reduction of the number of cars was
because “as you age, your needs continue to decrease.”

Earlier some of the lawmakers had supported the report of the
committee saying it would have a positive impact on the internally
generated revenue of the state.

*Expunges clause stipulating provision of houses in Abuja,
Lagos for ex-govs

The Lagos State House of Assembly on Thursday approved the
report of its committee on establishment which recommended the
reduction of pensions of former governors and other affected
officials by 50 percent.

The committee also expunged the provision of houses in Abuja and
Lagos for former governors as stipulated in an earlier law operated
by the state.

The Speaker of the House, Dr. Mudashiru Obasa, suggested that
former governors should get two vehicles (a car and a van) instead
of three as recommended by the committee.

He also suggested that the amended bill should provide that the
cars be changed every four years instead of the three years
recommended by the report.

The report had suggested that a reduction in the number of
vehicles to be made available to former governors and their
deputies.

While some of the lawmakers, at plenary, had suggested for an
upward review of the pension for the affected public office holders
by 75 percent, others urged that the pension remain as stipulated
in the old law.

However, Obasa argued that it should be left at 50 percent,
especially as the report had recommended the removal of houses and
reduced other benefits.

He recalled the recent murder of the President of Haiti and said
it was necessary to secure the lives of the former office
holders.

“By virtue of my office, I have seen former Speakers who we just
had to intervene in their lives because of the situations they
found themselves outside office. We have also seen former governors
in a very bad situation,” he said.

Obasa noted the argument of his colleagues that the projected
downward review of the pension for the former governors and others
could also be affected by inflation and other economic
considerations, but reminded that the House must meet the wishes of
the people, one of which is a cut in the cost of governance.

“There is no argument, we must realise that this is democracy
and it is all about the people. We are here because of the people.
When we represent people, it is good for us to listen to them as
well.

“We must realise that we would always go back to the people for
support. So when we hearken to their agitations and reduce what
exist, it shows that we listen,” Obasa told his colleagues adding
that his suggestion for further reduction of the number of cars was
because “as you age, your needs continue to decrease.”

Earlier some of the lawmakers had supported the report of the
committee saying it would have a positive impact on the internally
generated revenue of the state.