Despite the country’s great hardship, Senate President Godswill Akpabio and 13 other sitting senators who previously served as governors would each receive nearly N5.6 billion in pension and other perks.
The other senators include Adams Oshiomhole (Edo), Dave Umahi (Ebonyi), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto), Ibrahim-Hassan Dankwambo (Gombe), Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara), Aliyu Wammako (Sokoto), Orji Uzor Kalu (Abia), Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa), Adamu Aliero (Kebbi), Ibrahim Gaidam (Yobe), Danjuma Goje (Gombe) and Abubakar Sani Bello (Niger).
Senator Gbenga Daniel, the former governor of Ogun state, openly requested that he be exempted from pension payments in a letter to Governor Dapo Abiodun last week.
According to an investigation, former governors get N100 million per year on average, which includes 100% of the basic pay of existing governors, which is set at N11.54 million by the Revenue Mobilisation, Allocation and Fiscal Commission (RMAFC).
Furniture, 300 percent of the annual minimum, two brand new automobiles every four years, accommodation anywhere in the country, free medication for the ex-governor and his immediate family, cooks, stewards, utility, drivers, and security are among their privileges.
Apart from their wages and various allowances in the Senate, each of the 14 Senators would receive N1.4 billion per year, for a total of N5.6 billion over four years.
Lifetime generosity is more prevalent in states such as Lagos, Akwa Ibom, and Rivers.
Lagos State Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu introduced a bill to the State House of Assembly in 2020 to abolish the Public Office Holder (Payment of Pension Law 2007), which granted past governors and their deputies with hefty payments of pension and other entitlements.
According to Sanwo-Olu, eliminating the pension will lower the expense of governance while also signaling selflessness in public service.
However, the bill was changed by the Lagos State Assembly, which reduced the pension by 50% and removed the provision for residences in Abuja and Lagos.
As governor of Akwa Ibom, Akpabio signed legislation capping ex-governor pensions and perks at N200 million per year.
If the 2014 state pension law is completely implemented, the state may spend more than N600 million per ex-governor per year.
According to the law, the ex-governor receives N2,223,705.00 as a yearly pension; a new official car and a utility vehicle every four years, one personal aide, and adequate security during his lifetime at the expense of the state government; N5 million or an equivalent of $50,000.00 monthly to engage the services of a cook, chauffeurs, and security guards; and free medical services up to N100 million or the equivalent of $6,000. One house in Abuja or Akwa Ibom, not less than a 5-bed maisonette, furniture: 300 percent of annual basic pay per four years.
An ex-governor in Rivers is entitled to three new cars every four years, as well as free medical care (no cap) for himself and his family.100% of the incumbent governor’s annual basic salary, lodging wherever in Nigeria Furniture: 30% of annual basic wage every four years “en bloc”
Housekeeping costs 10% of the annual base income. Domestic personnel: Cook, steward, gardener, and other non-pensionable domestic staff (no limit). Security: two SSS agents, four police officers (two each for house and personal security); Personal Assistant (PA): 25% of annual base wage. Car maintenance costs 30% of the annual base pay.
Toward the end of his tenure as governor of Benue state, Samuel Ortom introduced legislation in the House of Assembly that would provide ex-governors with a yearly pension of N138.49 million.
A state like Gombe, on the other hand, added 30 days of annual vacation outside Nigeria and estacode for the ex-governor and his wife. As governor of the state, Senator Goje signed the bill.
