3 vehicles every 5 years 100% of last salary as pension
By Patrick Ahanor
Benin City
Less than one week after Comrade Adams Oshiomhole left office as the Edo state governor, the state House of Assembly, yesterday, graciously amended the “2007 Pension Rights of the Governor and Deputy Governor Law.”
With the amendment which now awaits Governor Godwin Obaseki’s assent, Oshiomhole, Chief John Odigie-Oyegun, the incumbent National Chairman, All Progressives Congress, and other former civilian governors, are to get a residential building worth N200million each in any part of the country.
And for Oshiomhole’s deputy, Dr. Pius Odubu and other former deputy governors, they are to get a N100 million worth of housing.
The cost of housing was the only part of the initial law amended after the House so resolved. The Bill reads in parts: “Provision of a house in a location of choice in Nigeria of the Governor provided that the total cost of building the house shall not be in excess of 200 Million Naira.
“Provision of a house in a location of choice in Nigeria for the Deputy Governor provided that the total cost of building the house shall not be in excess of 100 million Naira.”
Under the new law which is awaiting Governor Godwin Obaseki’s assent, only ex-civilian governor of the state would benefit from the bounty.
The living ex-civilian governors, who had served the state, include Brigadier (Dr.) Samuel Ogbemudia (retd), Oshiomhole, Chief Lucky Igbinedion and Odigie-Oyegun, the APC national chair.
Besides, the former governors would be entitled to life pension at a rate equivalent to 100 percent of their last annual salary, two armed policemen with special duty allowance provided by the state and free medical treatment for their immediate families.
Other benefits are; three vehicles to be bought by the state government and to be replaced every five years, three drivers who shall be selected by the former governor; and paid by the state government, an officer not above salary Grade Level 12 as Special Assistant and a Personal Secretary not below Grade Level 10.
Similarly, former 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 who shall be selected by the former deputy governor from the public service of the state, a cook, and two policemen as security.
Also, included are two vehicles bought by the state government and liable to be replaced every five years, two drivers who shall be selected by former deputy governors and paid by the state government and free medical treatment for them and their immediate families
In another development, the Assembly yesterday suspended former Speaker of the House, Hon. Victor Edoror for a period of three months.
Edoror was impeached in May 2016 over alleged gross misconduct and a committee afterwards put in place to investigate him.
However, his successor, Justine Okonobo, who announced the suspension at plenary, said Edoror refused to appear before the panel.