Edo House stirs controversy, awards huge pension for Oshiomhole, Ogbemudia, others

Edo House of Assembly on Wednesday courted some controversy with the approval granted the executive arm of government to effect an upward review in pension entitlements of past governors and their deputies.
The House move comes exactly four days after former governor Adams Oshiomhole handed over the reins of authority to the new helmsman. It will be the lot of governor Godwin Obaseki to implement the new law.

The new pension benefits, Ripples Nigeria gathered, provides for a private residence valued at N200million and N100 million to be erected for former governors and their deputies respectively. The choice properties will be built anywhere in the nation depending on the desires of the beneficiaries.

Emerging reports say the Edo House initiative has received wide condemnation among the populace, especially as the policy is coming so early in the life of the new administration which has the worrisome issues of salary arrears and wide spread poverty to contend with.

The bill titled, “A bill for a law to amend the 2007 Pension Rights of the Governor and Deputy Governor Law” was approved by the House at the committee of the whole. However, there appeared to have been a dissenting voice in the person of former Speaker Victor Edoror who was eventually suspended.

Announcing the suspension, the House Speaker, Okonoboh, said the suspension was sequel to recommendation of the ad-hoc committee report on the allegations of financial impropriety leveled against the former speaker.

Read also: OBASEKI takes charge of Edo state

Other benefits to be enjoyed by the former governors are a pension for life at a rate equivalent to 100 percent of their last annual salary in addition to an officer not above salary grade level 12 as Special Assistant.

A personal secretary not below grade level 10 who shall be selected by the former governor from the public service of Edo state.

They are also entitled to have two cooks, two armed policemen as security, three vehicles to be bought by the State Government and liable to be replaced every five years.

The former governors will also be entitled to three drivers who shall be selected by them and paid by the state government as well as free medical treatment for the governor and his immediate family.

On the other hand, the deputy governors will be entitled to 100 percent of their last annual salary as pension, a personal staff not above salary grade level 12 as Special Assistant, a personal secretary not below grade level 09, a cook and two policemen as security.

Also approved for the deputy governor are 2 vehicles to be bought by the state government and liable to be replaced every five years, two drivers who shall be selected by the former deputy governor and paid by the state government and free medical treatment for him and his immediate family.

The speaker also announced the dissolution of the house standing committtees.

 

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