SESSPN seeks stoppage pensions for former presidents, governors
Urges police reforms
Edo State chapter of the South-South and South East Professionals of Nigeria (SESSPN) has canvassed the abolition of pensions for former presidents, vice presidents, governors and their deputies due to the present economic realities in the country.
State Chairman of SESSPN, Aiyamenkhue Edokpolo, said the abolition of pensions for the former public officers would be a step in the right direction to rejig the country’s economy.
Edokpolo disclosed this in a statement issued after an emergency meeting on the state of the nation in Benin City, saying the need for the call to stop their pensions became imperative following the country’s endemic poverty and misappropriation of resources.
“In the light of the intrinsic spirit and solidarity of Nigerians before and during the #EndSARS protests, which nearly crippled public administration in Nigeria, it has become imperative and expedient for President Muhammadu Buhari and governors to inspire executive Bills for the abolition of pensions for all former leaders.
“The funds should thereafter be directed towards youth empowerment and poverty alleviation programmes. Sustainable remittance to the former leaders during economic downturn is a misnomer, disservice and disguised appropriation of Nigerians’ goodwill,” the statement reads.
The group stressed that former presidents, vice presidents, governors and deputies could always find enviable public and private appointments or positions for themselves in corporations in any part of the world.
It maintained re-servicing such privileged elites from the public till of tax payers, some of which were badly mismanaged during their time in office, was unfair and unacceptable
“Our political elites must urgently and dispassionately apply compassion, sincerity, accountability and transparency in all portfolios of Nigeria’s public administration, as a second wave of #EndSARS protests may be a recipe for a failed country,” it added.
Edokpolo also advocated reforms of the Nigeria Police Force and upward review of the salaries and basic allowances for all categories of security and police officers, as well as provision of modern tools and technology devices to aid efficient services.
“It is disheartening, unfortunate and ungodly to find police officers paying for their uniforms or kits, which were originally designed for them freely by the combined effects of their recruitment and budgetary appropriation for security of all Nigerians. This must stop forthwith.
“The morale of police officers is at its lowest ebb and hoodlums are no substitute for policing. It is imperative, therefore, to appreciate the urgent need to inject funds into the critical security agencies,” Edokpolo said.
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