The Public Office Holder (Payment of Pension Law 2007) signed by ex-governor Bola Ahmed Tinubu in 2007 ensures that the ex-governors and their deputies would enjoy pensions and other benefits for life.
They’re also entitled to an array of advantages which include a house in any location in Lagos and another in Abuja for a two-term governor, six brand new cars every three decades, 100 per cent of their basic salary of the serving governor, free health care for himself and members of his family and furniture allowance amongst other perks.
The lawmakers, who shot another look in the bill seeking to repeal the law which has scaled the second reading on the floor of the home, stated there was nothing wrong with the ex-governors and their deputies enjoying their pensions after they’d diligently served the public.
A member of the Assembly representing Agege two State Constituency, Oluyinka Ogundimu, described the bill as sinful.
He argued the ex-governors and their deputies in addition to other political office holders must be forced to enjoy any advantages no matter how small.
Another lawmaker, Rotimi Abiru (Shomolu 2), who supported the amendment of the law instead of repeal said:
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“For a person who has served as chief executive of a country, I don’t think it’s fine denying them of their gains.
“I can appreciate that some of them proceed to other appointments. For these folks, there can be a caveat.
“However, for those who function in that capacity and also don’t have anything to do the following office, it might not be something elaborate, but something to come to them periodically.”
In his speech, the Speaker of the House, Mudashiru Obasa, agreed with his colleagues that a complete repeal of this law would expose former governors and deputies to security challenges.
He, therefore, committed the invoice to the House Committee on Establishment using a two-week mandate to submit its own report.
