Abia State House of Assembly has yesterday passed a bill to stop the payment of pensions to all former governors and their deputies in the state. The Bill titled, “A Bill (H.A.B 11:) for a Law to Revoke The Abia State Governors and Deputy Governors Pensions Law No 4 of 2001 and for other Matters connected therewith.” The Bill was sponsored by Mr Uchanna Okoro, the Majority Leader and member Representing Arochukwu State Constituency, citing the cost of governance is getting out of hand.
The lawmakers has since passed the bill as disclosed by the Speaker, Mr Emmanuel Emeruwa, after its first, second reading, consideration at the committee of the whole and its third reading during the day’s plenary.
Emeruwa, while congratulating members, said the bill would reduce the state’s governance expenses and redirect resources toward development of the state instead of minority few to be feeding fat on the government.
According to the speaker, once the bill is assented to by the governor, it would be referred to as “Abia State Governors and Deputy Governor’s (Repeal) Law 2024.”
The News Agency of Nigeria, NAN reports that with the bill, former governors and their deputies will no longer enjoy pension benefits after their tenures have expired.
There had been a lot of reaction some years back over outrageous life person and other enviable benefits former Governors and their deputies were allocating to themselves shortly before leaving the office.
While few states had made moves to repeal the law, many states showed a nonchalant attitude toward doing so.
