Abia State House of Assembly, yesterday, passed a bill to stop payment of pensions to former governors and their deputies in the state. The bill, which was sponsored by the House Majority Leader, Uchenna Okoro, representing Arochukwu Constituency, was tagged, “H.A.B 11 for a Law to Revoke The Abia State Governors and Deputy Governors Pensions Law No 4 of 2001 and for other Matters connected therewith.”
Speaker of the House, Emmanuel Emeruwa, representing Aba South Constituency, while congratulating the members after passing the bill, said that when accented to by the governor, the law will be referred to as “Abia State Governors and Deputy Governor’s (Repeal) Law 2024.”
He said that immediately after it becomes law, the cost of the state governance will be reduced, with the saved resources redirected towards state development.
When contacted for reaction, a former deputy governor and former aide to a past governor of the state, who spoke on condition of anonymity, predicted that the Governor Alex Otti may withhold accent to the bill, considering that he will, after holding office, become a beneficiary of the pension.
“Why should Abia State lead in abrogating pensions that applied at federal and state levels?” they queried separately. Recall that a former Speaker had proposed extension of pensions to past Speakers and their deputies, but failed to push it successfully.
Similarly, a South South state House of Assembly had reportedly passed a law for past governors to be paid their last salary as pension for life. But it was not ascertained if this law came into effect.
According to a labour unionist, who spoke anonymously, it is irrational for governors and their deputies, who served their states for maximum of eight years, to be paid pensions for life like retired public servants that served their state for longer years from youth to statutory periods, ranging from 35 years’ service or on attaining 60 years of age.
