Sanwo-Olu moves to stop Tinubu, other ex-govs, deputies’ pensions

Former governors and deputies including Bola Tinubu, Babatunde Fashola and Akinwunmi Ambode, may no longer enjoy pensions if plans to repeal the Public Office Holder (Payment of Pension Law 2007) sail through.

The Lagos State Governor, Babajide Sanwo-Olu, gave the hint on Tuesday when he announced his intention to repeal the Public Office Holder (Payment of Pension Law 2007), which provides for payment of pension and other entitlements to former elected governors and their deputies.

The governor made this known on Tuesday while presenting the 2021 budget to the Lagos State House of Assembly.

He said the bill for that purpose would be sent to the state assembly.

“Mr. Speaker and Honourable members of the house, in the light of keeping the costs of governance low and to signal selflessness in public service, we will be sending a draft executive bill to the House imminently for the repeal of the Public Office Holder (Payment of Pension Law 2007), which provides for payment of pension and other entitlements to former governors and their deputies,” Sanwo-Olu said.

According to the Lagos Pension Law approved by former Governor Bola Tinubu in 2007, a former governor will enjoy the following benefits for life: Two houses, one in Lagos and another in Abuja; even as property experts estimate such a house in Lagos to cost about N500 million and that in Abuja to cost about N700 million.

Other entitlements include: Six brand new cars, replaceable every three years; furniture allowance of 300 per cent of annual salary to be paid every two years; and a pension of N2.5 million monthly amounting to about N30 million pension annually.

The former governor will also enjoy security details, free medicals including for his immediate families.

Other benefits are house maintenance worth 10 per cent of his annual pension; 30 per cent car maintenance; 10 per cent entertainment; 20 per cent utility, and several domestic staff.

Should the new arrangement succeed in Lagos, it would only be following a similar step taken by the Kwara State in 2018 when the state House of Assembly passed an amendment bill halting payment of pensions to former governors, deputy governors, and other political office holders after their tenure.

Former governors and their deputies from almost in all the 36 states of the federation enjoy similar jumbo pay.

A recent report by Blueprint newspaper catalogues a number of states where such largesse in the name of pensions for political office holders after leaving office is ‘legitimised’.

For instance, the report states in Rivers State, the law provides 100 per cent of annual basic salary for ex-governor and deputy; one residential house for former governor to be located anywhere of his choice in Nigeria; one residential house anywhere in Rivers state for the deputy; three cars for the ex-governor every four years; and two cars for the deputy every four years.

Furniture allowance for the governor is 300 per cent of annual basic salary every four years en bloc; as well as 10 per cent as house maintenance allowance.

In Akwa Ibom, the law provides for N200 million annual pension to ex governors and deputies. They enjoy a pension, for life, equivalent to the salary of the incumbent governor and deputy governor respectively.

Similarly, they are entitled to 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 N5 million per month and N2.5 million for the deputy governor.

There is also free medical service for governor and his spouse at an amount not exceeding N100 million for the governor per annum and N50 million for the deputy governor.

Also, there is a five-bedroom mansion in Abuja and Akwa Ibom and allowance of 300 per cent of annual basic salary for the deputy governor.

The ex-governor also takes a furniture allowance of 300 per cent of annual basic salary every four years in addition to severance gratuity.

The Kano State Pension Rights of Governor and Deputy Governor Law 2007 provides for 100 per cent of annual basic salaries for former governors and their deputies, with a furnished office as well as a six-bedroom house, ‘well-furnished’ four-bedroom for deputy, plus an office.

The former governor is also entitled to free medical service along with his immediate families within and outside Nigeria where necessary. It is same for deputy.

Two drivers are also part of the former governor’s entitlement and a driver for his deputy; and personal staff below the rank of a Principal Administrative Officer and a PA not below grade level 10. There is a provision for a 30-day vacation within and outside Nigeria.

In Gombe, there is N300 million executive pension benefits for the ex-governor.

The Zamfara version of the law, signed in 2006, gives former governors pension for life; two personal staff; two vehicles replaceable every four years; two drivers; free medicals for the former governors and deputies as well as their immediate families in Nigeria or abroad.

The law also gives the former governors a four-bedroom house in Zamfara and an office, free telephone and 30 days paid vacation outside Nigeria.

In Sokoto, former governors and deputy governors are to receive N200 million and N180 million respectively, being monetisation for other entitlements which include domestic aides; residence and vehicles; that could be renewed after every four years.

Section 2 (2) of the Sokoto State Grant of Pension, Governor and Deputy Governor, Law, 2013, states that “the total annual pension to be paid to the governor and deputy governor, shall be at a rate equivalent to the annual total salary of the incumbent governor or deputy governor of the state respectively.”