<p>Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged all former governors now in the 9th Senate to “publicly commit to stop collecting pensions from their states while they serve as senators, return ‘pensions’ already collected to the public treasury, and push for the abolition of double emoluments laws for former governors and deputies in their states.”</p>



<p>Several
of the 36 states have enacted pension-for-life laws for former governors and
deputies. Among former governors in the 9th Senate that will enjoy such
pensions are two ex-governors Abia State, Orji Kalu, and his successor,
Theodore Orji; former governor Ebonyi State Sam Egwu; former governor Imo State
Rochas Okorocha; former governor Ogun State Ibikunle Amosu; and former governor
Gombe State, Danjuma Goje.</p>



<p>SERAP
in a statement on Sunday, June 30, made available to OpenLife by its deputy
director Kolawole Oluwadare said: “As members of the ninth Senate resume
Tuesday, there is a lot at stake. The leadership and members must now take
meaningful steps to improve citizens’ trust and confidence in the Senate’s
authority and ability to positively impact on their lives, by ;embracing
the values of transparency, accountability, responsibility, solidarity and
respect for human rights.”</p>



<p>SERAP said: “Nigeria deserves a Senate
that is fully committed to transparency, accountability, the rule of law,
proper management of public resources, and human rights. It’s time for the
leadership and members of the Senate to show the commitment and courage to end
double pay for former governors among them.”</p>



<p>The statement read in part: “Given the
large number of former governors in the ninth Senate that would be receiving
pensions, the Senate leadership and members should be the loudest voice urging
action against pension for life laws across many states. ;Senators are
already receiving several allowances, including ‘severance allowance’, ‘welcome
package’, and at least N15 million monthly allowance as senators.”</p>



<p>“Double pay and self-enrichment for
ex-governors now senators have continued to contribute to ‘resource curse and
the paradox of plenty’, with corrosive effect on governance and ultimately,
respect for human rights, including the rights to quality education, adequate
healthcare, clean water and regular electricity supply.”</p>



<p>“Double pay for former governors and
now senators will continue to have a negative impact on the ability of the
Senate to exercise constitutional oversight over the use of public funds and
limit avenues for public accountability.”</p>



<p>“Payment of pensions to former
governors in the Senate will continue to have an extremely negative effect on
Nigeria’s development and the well-being of the population, particularly in the
states with life pension laws. Life pension laws have depleted the public
resources that would have been spent on the basic needs of Nigerians.”</p>



<p>“The Senate President, Ahmed Lawan
should also use his political position and influence to sponsor a resolution
and prevail on Senators to stop double pay for public office holders. Double
pay for ex-governors amounts to misuse of public funds, as it diverts resources
away from support for essential public services, invariably allowing
politicians to maintain control over the political and economic resources of
their states.”</p>



<p>“By providing the leadership on the
matter, Senator Lawan will be sending a powerful message to his colleagues that
public function is meant to be exercised in the public interest. Such public
commitment and action to abolish double emoluments laws would also be entirely
consistent with article 19 of the UN Convention against Corruption to which
Nigeria is a state party.”</p>



<p>“The failures to allocate adequate
financial resources to health, education, water in part because of payment of
life pensions to former governors directly contravene Nigeria’s obligations
under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR) and the
International Covenant on Economic, Social, and Cultural Rights (ICESCR).”</p>



<p>“Under the Certain Political Office
Holders and Judicial Officers Remuneration Act, former governors who are
lawmakers are already entitled to 300% of their basic salary as severance pay
at the end of their terms as senators.”</p>



<p>“Other ex-governors in the ninth Senate
include: former governor Enugu State Chimaroke Nnamani; former governor Kebbi
state Adamu Aliero, and former governor Nasarawa state Abdullahi Adamu.”</p>



<p>“In Akwa Ibom, state law provides for
N200m annual pay to ex governors, deputies; pension for life; 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; free medical
services for governor and spouse totaling N100m for the governor per annum, 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.”</p>



<p>“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.”</p>



<p>“Benefits accruable to former governors
of Edo State under the Pension Rights of the Governor and Deputy Governor Law
2007 amount to 100 per cent of the salary of the incumbent governor for life,
an officer not above Salary grade level 12 as Special Assistant, a personal
secretary not below grade level 10 who shall be selected by the former governor
from the public service of Edo State.”</p>



<p>“In Osun State, the law guiding the
payment of pensions to former governors and their deputies is cited as the
Pension (Governor and Deputy Governor) Law 2001. The law stipulates that former
governors and former deputy governors shall be entitled to pension at the rate
equivalent to the incumbent office holder.”</p>



<p>“In Zamfara state, pension law allows
former governors to 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.”</p>



<p>“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 every three years; furniture allowance of 300 percent of annual
salary every two years, and a close to N2.5m as pension (about N30m pension
annually).”</p>



<p>“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.”</p>



<p>“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.”</p>



<p>“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.”</p>

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