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‘Abrogate pension laws for ex-governors, deputies’

Lara Akintoye

The Centre for Human and Socio-economic Rights (CHSR) has called on state legislatures to repeal Pension Laws for former governors, their deputies, other public office holders and also  improve social welfare for the residents of the state.

The National President, CHSR, Alex Omotehinse, made this known at a news conference held recently in Lagos. According to Omotehinse, such laws are illegal and endanger the socio-economic rights of Nigerians.

“Research shows that only the National Assembly can make law on pension in Nigeria, therefore, the various states laws on pension and gratuity to ex-governors should be declared null, void and unconstitutional.

“Since the various state Houses of Assembly have refused to amend or abrogate the life pension for their ex-governors, the discourse must also refuse to die down too. Currently, about 20 former governors and their deputies are receiving salaries from public purse as either serving senators or ministers.

The rights activist said that the Revenue Mobilisation Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC) had approved payment of 300 per cent basic salary as severance allowances for political office holders on leaving office.

On Lagos State, Mr Omotehinse said that machinery should be put in place by Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu and the House of Assembly to repeal the state pension law approved by former Governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2007.

Also speaking, the National President, Activists for Good Governance, Com. Declan Ihekaire pointed out that pensions are meant for employees who are duly employed, “If Imo and Zamfara States could abrogate such laws then Lagos state government should also revoke it”, he said.

Source: thenationonlineng.net