PHOTO: VON
The Benue State House of Assembly on Monday annulled the law for the payment of pensions to former governors and their deputies for the rest of their lives.
The controversial pension bill was passed by the 9th Assembly in May 2023, a few days before their exit.
Former Speaker of the 9th Assembly, Titus Uba, had presided over the session where the bill was passed into law.
The bill stipulated that “a monthly stipend equivalent to the Basic salary of a serving/incumbent Governor in the State for life and which shall be a charge on the Consolidated Revenue Funds of the State
“The Deputy Governor shall enjoy a monthly stipend equivalent to the Basic salary of an incumbent Deputy Governor for life and shall be charged on the Consolidated Revenue Funds of the State.
“A maintenance allowance of N25,000,000.00 for the former governor and the Deputy Governor is N15,000,000.00 every four years.”
It also offers the procurement of two official SUVs for the status of the former governor and one official car for the deputy governor.
The state government, according to the bill, is mandated to provide a former governor with six personal staff, one personal assistant, two drivers, two cleaners and one cook.
Then a former deputy governor will enjoy three personal staff members: one personal assistant, one driver and one cleaner.
There will also be a provision for security, yearly medical expenses, and the replacement of vehicles every four years with new ones of the same quality and status.
However, during plenary on Monday, the current 10th Assembly repealed the bill signed into law by their predecessors because it was not done in good faith.
The lawmakers stated that the law was anti-people, and they unanimously supported the repeal following several contributions from members.
Speaker of the House, Aondona Dajoh, ruled in favour of the House’s unanimous resolution to repeal the “Bill for a law to repeal provision for the maintenance of former elected governors of the state and their deputies and for other matters connected thereto 2024.”
