Ex-Abia govs, deputies stopped from collecting N15m monthly pension

The Abia state House of Assembly, on Tuesday, passed a bill repealing the Abia State Governor’s and Deputy Governor’s Pensions Law, number 4 of 2021.

The Law made provision for a life pension of N10million per month for a governor and N5million for a deputy governor, among other provisions.

Sources say that the revocation of the law arose, probably, based on the allegation that some of the affected governors and their deputies, were retired civil servants and were on pensions.

The bill titled: “H.A.B 11: The Abia State Governor’s and Deputy Governor’s Pensions Law Repeal Bill 2024,” was sponsored by the Majority Leader and member representing Arochukwu State Constituency, Mr Okoro Uchenna Kalu.

Speaking while announcing the passage of the bill, the Speaker of Abia House of Assembly, Chief Emmanuel Emeruwa, commended members of the House for their understanding and co-operation, saying that it is in-line with the yearnings of majority of Abians and Nigerians.

Leading the debate, on the floor of the House, the sponsor of the bill, Kalu described said it was timely, as it will help reduce the cost of governance, free funds that would be deployed for the development of the state and welfare of greater majority of the people, who are in dire need of it, and urged that accelerated hearing and passage be given to the bill.

The House also passed for second reading, “H.A.B 9: The Faith-based and Private Colleges of Nursing Sciences Establishment Bill 2024,” sponsored by the member representing Umuahia- South, Mr Emeka Obioma and committed same to its Committee on Health to conduct public hearing on the bill and report back to the House.

The State House of Assembly further took and passed for first reading, “HAB 10: Abia State Cocoa Development and Marketing Board Bill, 2024,” sponsored by the Deputy Speaker and member representing Umuahia- East State Constituency, Chief Okezie Augustine.

In his reaction, the Deputy Speaker of the State House of Assembly, Chief Augustine Okezie lauded his colleagues for the accelerated hearing and passage of the pension bill.

Speaking shortly after the passage of the bill, the Deputy Speaker, who is also Chairman of House Committee on Media and Information, hinted that some other states, across the country with such a bill are also taking measures to repeal them.

Chief Okezie, representing Umuahia- East State Constituency in the Abia House, also commended Governor Alex Otti, a potential beneficiary of the law, for not interfering in the process of the bill.

Okezie identified some of the merits of the bill to include freeing up more funds accruing to the state government for use in addressing the needs of the people of the state.

According to the Deputy Speaker, having repealed the earlier law empowering the State Government to pay pensions to former governors and the deputies, the huge funds, saved from that source, will be better deployed into the current developmental strides of the present administration.

He expressed joy that the State House of Assembly is standing with the people in this law.

In his own reaction, a security expert and Interpol consultant, Sir Chikwe Udensi objected to the repeal of the law, saying the huge pension granted them ought to have been reduced to normal rate, rather than scapping it completely.

He argued that removal of the pension would encourage embezzlement, fraud, mal-practices and so on, by governors and deputies, while in office , so as to take good care of themselves when they leave office.

Udensi, who spoke at a Radio-audience participation programme, monitored in Umuahia, advised that governors and deputy governors should be involved in, what he described as , “Contributory pension”, while in office, so as to remain relevant after office.

” Don’t scrap pension. Rather, reduce the amounts to a level that will fall in-line with prevailing conditions,” he said.