…By Dorcas Funmi for TDPel Media. The Socio-Economic Rights and Accountability Project (SERAP) has urged the Senate President, Godswill Akpabio, and 13 other former governors in the 10th Senate to disclose the pensions they receive from their respective states.
In a statement by SERAP’s Deputy Director, Kolawole Oluwadare, the group emphasized the need for transparency and accountability.
Call to Stop Collecting Life Pensions and Return Collected Amounts
SERAP urged the new lawmakers who are former governors to clarify if they are currently receiving or have collected life pensions.
The group urged them to stop collecting such pensions and return any previously collected amounts to the treasury.
SERAP emphasized that collecting life pensions while serving in the Senate would violate constitutional provisions and exploit their entrusted public positions.
Former Senate President Bukola Saraki Sets an Example
SERAP praised former Senate President Dr Bukola Saraki, who voluntarily stopped collecting life pensions as a former governor of Kwara State.
The group urged other former governors in the Senate to follow Saraki’s lead and described the practice of receiving life pensions as “immoral.”
List of Former Governors Receiving Pensions
SERAP provided a list of 14 former governors, including the Senate President, who are currently serving in the 10th National Assembly.
The list includes Godswill Akpabio (Akwa-Ibom State), Adams Oshiomhole (Edo State), Adamu Aliero (Kebbi State), Dave Umahi (Ebonyi State), Aminu Tambuwal (Sokoto State), Abubakar Sani Bello (Niger State), Ibrahim Dankwambo (Gombe State), Danjuma Goje (Gombe State), Abdulaziz Yari (Zamfara State), Gbenga Daniel (Ogun State), Aliyu Wammako (Sokoto State), Orji Kalu (Abia State), Ibrahim Gaidam (Yobe State), and Seriake Dickson (Bayelsa State).
States Implementing Life Pensions and Financial Challenges
SERAP highlighted the states that are implementing life pensions for former governors, including Akwa-Ibom, Abia, Edo, Jigawa, Niger, Kebbi, Kano, Sokoto, Jigawa, Cross River, Ebonyi, Enugu, Benue, Gombe, Yobe, Taraba, Kaduna, Plateau, Katsina, Rivers, and Delta.
The group emphasized that many of these states face financial difficulties, with outstanding workers’ salaries and ranking among the poorest in the country.
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