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The Edo State House of Assembly on Wednesday amended the “2007 Pension Rights of the Governor and Deputy Governor Law” to pave way for a home of N200 million for former Governor Adams Oshiomhole.
According to the amended law, Oshiomhole’s Deputy, Dr Pius Odubu is to also get N100 million accommodation.
If the amended law is assented to by the Governor Godwin Obaseki, Oshiomhole and Odubu will get N200 million and N100 million for their accommodation.
Details of the amendment revealed that the former Governor and his Deputy could have the accommodation in any location of their choice in Nigeria.
The bill, with the subhead: “Provision of a House” provides that a house in a location of choice in Nigeria for the governor, provided that the total cost of building the house shall not be in excess of N200 million while N100 million (is) for the deputy governor.
Other benefits the former governor and his deputy will enjoy include a pension for life at a rate equivalent to 100 per cent of his last annual salary, besides an officer not above salary grade Level 12 as Special Assistant (SA), a personal secretary not below Grade Level 10, who shall be selected by the former governors from the public service of Edo State.
Former governors are also entitled to have two cooks, two armed policemen (as security), three vehicles to be bought by the state government and liable to be replaced every five years, three drivers, who shall be selected by the former governor and paid by the state government as well as free medical treatment for the governor and his immediate family.
Former deputy governors are entitled to 100 per cent of their last annual salary as pension, a personal worker not above salary Grade Level 12 as Special Assistant (SA), 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, two policemen (as security).
Two vehicles bought by the state government and liable to be replaced every five years are to be provided with 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 family.
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This is very disgraceful. If every ex-governor in the state gets this much what will be left for the civil servants and infrastructural development? This is a state where teachers and health workers are being owed up to eight months salaries.
This is destroys Oshiomhole’s claim to being a governor that cares about the people’s welfare. It is gratuities such as this that is making politics in Nigeria a do or die affair. To the best of my knowledge, Lucky Igbinedion, who Oshiomhole has branded a criminal didn’t arrange this kind of pension for himself.
What did he do for Edo State in eight years that the whole state has to be given to him in appreciation? I blame the docile labour union of this days that can’t champion any cause on behalf of their members? People will keep dying in pension queues waiting to claim peanuts while the governors and their friends loot under every guise.