Lagos Assembly opposes scrapping of fat pension for ex-governors, others

The Lagos State House of Assembly has said it would not repeal the state’s pensions law permitting former governors, including Bola Tinubu, Babatunde Fashola and other public office holders, to receive juicy pensions from state coffers.

During an interview on Sunday, the Chairman, House Committee on Information and Strategy, Tunde Braimoh, disclosed that Lagos Assembly would not go the way of the Zamfara Assembly which recently repealed the pension law for its former governors.

Ripples Nigeria had reported that the Federal High Court in Lagos recently ordered the Federal Government to recover pensions collected by former governors now serving as ministers and members of the National Assembly.

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The court also directed the Attorney General of the Federation, Mr Abubakar Malami, to challenge the legality of states’ pension laws permitting former governors and other ex-public officials to receive such pensions.

Braimoh, however, faulted the court ruling that ordered Malami to take immediate legal action toward the abolishment of state laws that permits “former governors to enjoy governors’ emoluments while drawing normal salaries and allowances in their new political offices.”

He said as long as the law did not contravene the constitution, state assemblies had the right to make laws for the benefit of the society in which they operate.

According to him, the separation of powers as enshrined in the constitution empowers the legislature to make laws, the executive to implement and the judiciary to interpret the laws.

“The Supreme Court had made it clear several times that no arm of government can repeal the constitutional provisions of another arm of government.

“Therefore, legislators make laws that are in tune with the yearnings and dynamics of their society.

“Until another legislature comes to alter, review or amend the law, the law is meant to be obeyed.

“The judiciary cannot pronounce that a law by the state is unconstitutional unless such state law is contradictory to the constitution,” the lawmaker said.

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