Pensions of Nigerian
Ex-Governors (1)
If you think being a governor is very rewarding, wait until you become
an ex-governor ─ you instantly become a state liability for doing virtually
nothing. You continue to collect salaries called pensions; you get new cars
every now and then; your medical bills are taken care of for life; you are
entitled to a full complement of domestic staff; and an untold world of
goodies.
The Governors and Deputy Governors Pension Law 2014 recently passed by
Akwa Ibom State house of assembly has opened the eyes of Nigerians to what
ex-governors and ex-deputy governors are enjoying. The law has generated so
much controversy and outrage, forcing
Governor Godswill Akpabio to propose an amendment which the
state house of assembly has agreed to effect.
But what is happening in other states of the federation? In the first
part of a special report on ex-governors’ pensions, TheCable dissect the
provisions in three states: Akwa Ibom, Lagos and Rivers.
Akwa Ibom:
N100m for medical
The law in Akwa Ibom, which was first passed in 1998, provides free
medical treatment for ex-governors, their spouses, ex-deputy governors and
their spouses. Until the controversial amendment that was done in April, there
was no cap for the expenses. The law said “free medical treatment”. In effect,
an ex-governor could spend N500 million or more on medical per year. With the
amendment, however, a former governor and spouse could not spend more than N100
million a year, and a former deputy and spouse a maximum of N30 million.
Widows/widowers of former governors are entitled to N12 million a year, while
those of deputy governors would get N6 million.
THE BENEFITS
Annual Basic Salary: 100% of annual basic salaries of the
incumbent governor and deputy.
Accommodation: One house not below 5-bed maisonette in either
Abuja or Akwa Ibom for the former governor; 500% annual basic for the deputy.
Transport: One car and one utility car every four years for ex-governor and deputy.
Furniture: 300% of annual basic salary every four years.
House maintenance: Nil.
Domestic staff: Amount not above N5 million for ex-governor and
N2.5 million for ex-deputy to employ cook, chauffeurs and security.
Medical: Free treatment and spouse not exceeding N100 million per year for
ex-governor; N30 million per deputy (this provision will soon be reverted to
“free” without limit following outcry).
Security: “Adequate” (not specified).
PA: One.
Car maintenance: 300% of annual basic salary.
Entertainment: 100% of annual basic salary.
Utility: 100% of annual basic salary.
Drivers: Amount not above N5 million for ex-governor and N2.5 million for
ex-deputy to employ cook, chauffeurs and security.
Severance gratuity: 300% annual basic salary.
Lagos: 6 new cars every 3 years, houses in Lagos,
FCT
The Lagos State
Governor and Deputy Governor Pensions Law of 2007 provides one of the most
lucrative pensions in the federation.
The highlight is that
the former governor is entitled to six new cars every three years and a house
in Lagos and another in Abuja. Conservatively, a house in Lagos
will cost N500 million and one in Abuja N700 million. The former governor and
family (spouse and children ─ both married and unmarried) are entitled to free
medical which is not capped. Another highlight is that the ex-governor is
entitled to a cook, steward, gardener and other domestic staff who are
pensionable.
THE BENEFITS
Annual Basic Salary: 100% 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 every
three years; two cars, two back-up cars and one pilot car for the deputy every
three years.
Furniture: 300% of annual basic salary every two years.
House maintenance: 10% of annual basic salary.
Domestic staff: Cook, steward, gardener and other domestic staff
(no limit) who shall be pensionable.
Medical: Free medical treatment for ex-governor and deputy and members of their
families (not just spouses).
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.
PA: 25% of annual basic salary.
Car maintenance: 30% of annual basic salary.
Entertainment: 10% of annual basic salary.
Utility: 20% of annual basic salary.
Drivers: Pensionable (no limit to number of drivers).
Severance gratuity: Not specified.
Rivers: 3 new cars every 4 years
The Rivers State
Pensions for Governor and Deputy Governor was passed in 2012. For all the
wealth of the state, the conditions are a bit modest. A former governor is
entitled to just one house “anywhere in Nigeria” and three new cars every four
years. There will be free medical care (no cap) for the former governor and
deputy and their families ─ which cover both married and unmarried children.
Interestingly, like Lagos, there will be a cook, steward and gardener but
unlike Lagos, they are not pensionable.
THE BENEFITS
Annual Basic Salary: 100% of annual basic salaries of the
incumbent governor and deputy.
Accommodation: One residential house for former governor “anywhere
of his choice in Nigeria”; one residential house anywhere in Rivers for the
deputy.
Transport: Three cars for the ex-governor every four years; two cars for the deputy
every four years.
Furniture: 300% of annual basic salary every four years “en bloc”.
House maintenance: 10% of annual basic salary.
Domestic staff: Cook, steward, gardener and other domestic staff
(no limit) who shall be non-pensionable.
Medical: Free medical treatment for ex-governor and deputy and members of their
families (not just spouses and no cap).
Security: Two SSS operatives, four policemen (two each for house and personal
security) for the ex-governor; one SSS operative and two policemen (one each
for house and personal security).
PA: 25% of annual basic salary.
Car maintenance: 30% of annual basic salary.
Entertainment: 10% of annual basic salary.
Utility: 20% of annual basic salary.
Drivers: Non-pensionable (no limit to number of drivers).
Severance gratuity: Not specified