Human rights lawyer, Femi Falana, SAN, has called for an end to what he described as scandalous pension for some ex-governors in Nigeria.
Falana in a statement, lamented that while many state governors voted themselves humongous pension payments and allowances, some of them chose not to pay the pensions and gratuities for their former workers whilst they were in office.
He noted that not less than 20 of the former governors are in the Senate where they also receive jumbo salaries and allowances.
According to Falana who is also the Chairman of Alliance on Surviving Covid 19 and Beyond (ASCAB), the pension laws for Lagos, Akwa Ibom and Rivers States are the “most scandalous.”
He pointed out that in the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) v Attorney-General of the Federation, (Suit No. FHC/L/CS/1497/2017 and Alhaji Garba Umar v Taraba State Government (Suit No: NICN/JOS/26/2016, the Federal High Court and the National Industrial Court declared as null and void the payment of pension and gratuity to former governors and deputy governors.
He added that “In 2022, the Lagos State Government announced the 50 percent reduction in the pension. Senators Daniel and Dankwambo have directed the Governments of Ogun and Gombe to stop paying them the pension since they are receiving salaries and allowances in the National Assembly.
“The Governments of Kwara, Imo and Zamfara States have abolished the payment of the pension. We call on other state Governments to abolish the pension as soon as possible. Nigeria can no longer afford to pay scandalous pension to ex-governors while workers are owed arrears of meagre pension. Therefore, the pension laws applicable to other public officers should also apply to all ex-governors.”
Falana reminded state governments of a subsisting court order declaring the payment of pensions to former governors as illegal, null and void.
