No Justification’ — Falana-Led ASCAB Renews Call For States To Abolish Lavish Ex-Governor Entitlements

*Say With Debts & Revenue Crisis, Nigeria Can’t Afford Ex-Gov Benefits

The Alliance on Surviving COVID 19 and Beyond (ASCAB) has renewed demands for state governments across Nigeria to end the practice of paying scandalous pensions to former governors.

In a statement on Sunday, January 21st, 2024 prominent lawyer and ASCAB Chairman, Femi Falana SAN, described some of the pension packages enacted by states like Lagos, Akwa-Ibom and Rivers as outrageous.

He outlined details showing ex-governors receive humongous benefits like 100% of the incumbent’s annual basic salary, multiple luxury vehicles, lavish medical allowances, virtually free housing and staffing.

Meanwhile, Falana decried that many ex-governors refused to pay worker pensions and entitlements while in office.

With some now senators receiving further remunerations from government, he insisted there is no justification for the jumbo pension payments.

ASCAB’s statement referenced past court judgements declaring such pension laws null and void in addition to states like Kwara, Imo and Zamfara that have already abolished theirs.

As Nigeria grapples with revenue shortfalls, growing debt and developmental challenges, Falana argued that ex-governors must now be governed by regular civil service pension regulations henceforth.

He called on all other states to follow suit in scrapping the repugnant pension packages immediately.

The details of the pension enjoyed by former Governors of Lagos, Akwa Ibom and Rivers States are set out below:

1. PENSION FOR LAGOS STATE EX-GOVERNORS :

i. Annual Basic Salary: 100% of annual basic salaries of the incumbent governor.

ii. Accommodation: One residential house in Lagos and another in FCT.

iii. Transport: Three cars, two back-up cars and one pilot car every three years.

iv. Furniture: 300% of annual basic salary every two years.

v. House maintenance: 10% of annual basic salary.

vi. Domestic staff: Cook, steward, gardener and other domestic staff (no limit) who shall be pensionable.

vii. Medical: Free medical treatment for ex-governor and members of their families (not just spouses).

viii. Security: Two SSS operatives, one female officer, eight policemen (four each for house and personal security) for the ex-governor.

ix. Personal Assistant: 25% of annual basic salary.

x. Car maintenance: 30% of annual basic salary.

xi. Entertainment: 10% of annual basic salary.

xii. Utility: 20% of annual basic salary.

xiii. Drivers: Pensionable (no limit to number of drivers).

2. PENSION FOR RIVERS STATE EX-GOVERNORS:

i. Annual Basic Salary: 100% of annual basic salaries of the incumbent governor.

ii. Accommodation: One residential house “anywhere of his choice in Nigeria”.

iii.Transport: Three cars every four years.

iv.Furniture: 300% of annual basic salary every four years.

v.House maintenance: 10% of annual basic salary.

vi. Domestic staff: Cook, steward, gardener and other domestic staff (no limit) who shall be non-pensionable.

vii. Medical: Free medical treatment for ex-governor and members of their families (not just spouses and no cap).

viii. Security: Two SSS operatives, four policemen (two each for house and personal security).

ix.Personal Assistant: 25% of annual basic salary.

x. Car maintenance: 30% of annual basic salary.

xi. Entertainment: 10% of annual basic salary.

xii. Utility: 20% of annual basic salary.

xiii. Drivers: Non-pensionable (no limit to number of drivers).

3. PENSION FOR AKWA-IBOM STATE EX-GOVERNORS:

i. Annual Basic Salary: 100% of annual basic salaries of the incumbent governor.

ii. Accommodation: One house not below 5-bed maisonette in either Abuja or Akwa Ibom.

iii. Transport: One car and one utility car every four years.

iv. Furniture: 300% of annual basic salary every four years.

v. Domestic staff: Amount not above N5 million to employ cook, chauffeurs and security.

vi. Medical: Free treatment and spouse not exceeding N100 million per year (this provision will soon be reverted to “free” without limit following outcry).

vii. Security: “Adequate” (not specified).

viii. Personal Assistant: One.

ix. Car maintenance: 300% of annual basic salary.

x. Entertainment: 100% of annual basic salary.

xi. Utility: 100% of annual basic salary.

xii. Drivers: Amount not above N5 million.

xiii. Severance gratuity: 300% annual basic salary.

Conclusions

In the Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) v Attorney-GeneraloftheFederation, (Suit No. FHC/L/CS/1497/2017 and Alhaji Garba Umar v Taraba State Government (Suit No: NICN/JOS/26/2016, the Federal High Court and the National Industrial Court declared as null and void the payment of pension and gratuity to former governors and deputy governors.

In 2022, the Lagos State Government announced the 50 percent reduction in the pension. Senators Daniel and Dankwambo have directed the Governments of Ogun and Gombe to stop paying them the pension since they are receiving salaries and allowances in the National Assembly. The Governments of Kwara, Imo and Zamfara States have abolished the payment of the pension. We call on other state Governments to abolish the pension as soon as possible. Nigeria can no longer afford to pay scandalous pension to ex-governors while workers are owed arrears of meagre pension. Therefore, the pension laws applicable to other public officers should also apply to all ex-governors.