BREAKING: Lagos assembly slashes ex-governors’ pensions by 50%

The Lagos State House of Assembly has approved a 50 per cent reduction in the pensions being paid to former governors of the state.

A statement issued on Thursday by the House of Assembly said it adopted a report submitted by its committee on establishment on the issue.

The committee also recommended the removal of the law stipulating that houses in Abuja and Lagos should be provided for former governors.

The Lagos Pension law for ex-governors was signed in 2007 by then Governor Bola Tinubu weeks before he completed his two-term tenure.

The current governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, on Tuesday, November 10 announced that the pension law would be repealed.

He made the disclosure during the 2021 budget estimate presentation to the House of Assembly. And this generated a heated debate.

The Public Office Holder (Payment of Pension) Law No 11 Official Gazette of 2007 states that former governors are entitled to a house each in preferred locations in Lagos and Abuja, the nation’s capital.

Section 2 reads: “One residential house each for the governor and the deputy governor at any location of their choice in Lagos State and one residential house in the Federal Capital Territory for the governor on two consecutive terms.”

The law provides for six new cars every three years, 100 per cent of the basic salary of the incumbent governor (N7.7 million per annum), and free health care for the beneficiary and family members.

Former governors will be entitled to furniture allowance – 300 percent of annual basic salary (N23.3million); house maintenance allowance – 10 percent of annual basic salary (N778,296); utility allowance – 20 percent of annual basic salary (N1.5 million), and car maintenance allowance – 30 percent of the annual basic salary (N2.3million).

There is also an entertainment allowance, 10 per cent of the annual basic salary (N778,296); and a personal assistant who will earn 25 per cent of the governor’s annual basic salary (N1.9 million).

A former governor is also entitled to eight policemen and two Department of State Services (DSS) operatives for life.