The norm all over the world is that public office holders in a democratic setting like president, governors and legislators are elected by the people to serve them. In effect, they are public servants. This is not the case in Nigeria and indeed in most African and developing countries. The elected officers are demi-gods. They are above the law and they don’t give a ‘shit’ about the masses that elected them, if at all, their emergence is true reflection of the peoples vote.
Nothing has reinforced this position more than the cruel, heartless and shameful pension of former governors in Nigeria. The pension for former governors and deputies is not only unsustainable but injurious to the economic development of the states.
In Lagos, former Governors-Bola Tinubu and Babatunde Fashola perhaps with Alhaji Lateef Jakande will be earning the followings as pension for life according to the law passed in 2007. The former governor is entitled to six new cars every three years and a house in Lagos and another in Abuja. 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. 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.
In Rivers, former Governors Rotimi Amaechi, Celestine Omehia and Peter Odili will earn for life as pension according to the law passed in 2012. 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. 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.
In Akwa Ibom, the story is not different. The pension law for former governor was first passed in 1998 and amended in 2014. Godswill Akpabio and Victor Attah will earn for the rest of their lives the following as pension. 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. 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. 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.
The similarities in all these laws are easily discernible and it goes beyond the 3 mentioned states, it’s all over Nigeria including the pension for former President and Vice President. We all know that all States Assembly are not just an appendage of the Executive, but they are all controlled by their Governors. Just picture a scenario where a state have 6 former governors and 9 former deputy governors, can any state in Nigeria comfortable effect these payment?
These people telling us to cut our coat according to our cloth, are they serving us or themselves? Is democracy not being us to short change Nigerians? Conservatively, it will cost Lagos something in the region of N2 billion to put into effect the pension for its former executive governor and deputy. People that served for 30 years or more in the military, academics and other civil service are languishing in penury because their pensions which is a small fraction of this can’t be paid.
Where are the Nigeria Labour Congress and its counterpart, Trade Union Congress? Have they been compromised? Who is going to fight for the masses of this country? This is blatant robbery of the treasury. The President is in China to seek cheap loan, will the loan be used to pay pension to extremely rich and corrupt former public office holders? It’s a high time we took a cursory look at our laws and make a drastic amendment. With the way things are today, we are on a free way to perdition.
