Has the government started listening closely to the demands of the people or their own self interest?
The Socio-Economic Right
And Accountability Project called on state authorities to end the era of former
state governors serving as federal ministers and lawmakers enjoying life
pension and allowances simultaneously.
The Lagos State Public
Office Holder (Payment of Pension) Law provides lavish pension benefits to
former governors and their deputies. The Bill was signed into law by the former
governor of the state, Bola Tinubu in 2003.
The House has already
commenced the process of amending the Bill.
The new bill, which is
titled- Public
Office Holders (Payment of Pensions) Amendment Bill, 2016, has been read for first time and is
awaiting second reading.
The Bill, according to the
Speaker of the Lagos State House of Assembly, Mudashiru Obasa is to save tax
payers money while addressing the cost implication of governance.
Key beneficiaries of the
law are Bola Tinubu and Babatunde Fashola, who serves as Nigeria’s Power,
Housing and Works Minister.
Their deputies: Femi Pedro,
Abiodun Ogunleye and Joke Adefulure are also beneficiaries.
However, the amendment
will, allow the Speaker and the Deputy Speaker to benefit in the pension
scheme.
Highlights
of the existing Lagos State Public Office Holder Law include:
- Annual basic salary: 100 percent
of annual basic salaries of the incumbent governor and deputy.
- Accommodation: One residential
house in Lagos and another in FCT for the former governor; one residential
house in Lagos for the deputy.
- Transport: Three cars, two back-up
cars and one pilot car for the ex-governor, to be replaced every three
years; two cars, one back-up car and one pilot car for the deputy, also to
be replaced every three years.
- Furniture: 300 percent of annual
basic salary every two years.
- House maintenance: 10 percent of
annual basic salary.
- Domestic staff: Cook, steward,
gardener and other domestic staff who shall be pensionable.
- Medical: Free medical treatment
for ex-governor and deputy and members of their families.
- Security: Two SSS operatives, one
female officer, eight policemen (four each for house and personal
security) for the ex-governor; one SSS operative and two policemen (one
each for house and personal security) for the deputy.
- Personal Assistant: 25 percent of
annual basic salary.
- Car maintenance: 30 percent of
annual basic salary.
- Entertainment: 10 percent of
annual basic salary.
- Utility: 20 percent of annual
basic salary.
- Drivers: Pensionable.
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