The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability
Project (SERAP) has revealed how the Senate President, Bukola Saraki, Minister
of Transport, Rotimi Amaechi, Senate Minority Leader, Godswill Akpabio,
Ex-Governor of Kano State, Rabiu Kwankwaso and a host of other current
government officials are allegedly milking their states’ resources dry through
the receipt of double pensions and other emoluments.
According to SERAP, over N40bn of
public funds had so far been received by those involved.
He stressed that they were
unlawful, as the laws granting those benefits take governance away from the
arena of public interest.
In a letter written to the
Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami
(SAN), and obtained by DAILY POST, the group urged Malami “to use his good
offices as a defender of public interest, and exercise your powers by urgently
instituting appropriate legal actions to challenge the legality of states’ laws
permitting former governors, who are now senators and ministers to enjoy
governors’ emoluments while drawing normal salaries and allowances in their new
political offices.”
It also asked the Minister to
seek full recovery of over N40bn of public funds that had so far been received
on or before July 21st 2017, or face legal proceedings to compel him to do so.
The letter which analyzed how the
aforementioned government officials and others alleged milked the nation dry
through the collection of double pension reads in part:
“According to our information, those
who currently receive double emoluments and large severance benefits from their
states include: Dr. Bukola Saraki (Kwara); 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); Ms Biodun Olujimi (Ekiti); Enyinaya Harcourt
Abaribe (Abia); Rotimi Amaechi (Rivers), Kayode Fayemi (Ekiti); Chris Ngige
(Anambra); and Babatunde Fashola (Lagos).
“SERAP notes that 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 replaceable every three years; furniture
allowance of 300 percent of annual salary to be paid 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.
“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.
“In Akwa Ibom, state law provides
for N200m annual pay to ex governors, deputies; pension for life at a rate
equivalent to the salary of the incumbent governor/deputy governor respectively;
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. Others are: free medical services for governor and spouse at an
amount not exceeding 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.
“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.
“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.
“In Zamfara State, former
governors 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. 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.”
It added: “SERAP is concerned
that several serving senators and ministers are receiving salaries and life
pensions running into billions of naira from states that are currently
unwilling or unable to pay their workers’ salaries. Public office is a public
trust, and as such, citizens depend upon their governors, senators and
ministers to act in the public interest, not for their own or another’s profit
or benefit.”
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