In move to curb excessive spending and reduce the cost of governance, the Abia State House of Assembly has passed a groundbreaking bill that repeals the pensions and other entitlements of former governors and deputy governors.
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The bill, sponsored by Uchenna Okoro, the member representing Arochukwu State Constituency, aims to put an end to the substantial expenditure on retired governors and their deputies by the state.
If the bill receives the approval of Governor Alex Otti, it will have far-reaching implications for former governors such as Okezie Ikpeazu, T.A. Orji, and Orji Uzor Kalu, who will no longer be entitled to their pensions and other benefits. Okoro expressed his satisfaction with the passage of the bill, emphasizing that it aligns perfectly with the agenda of the Otti-led government to reduce the cost of governance in Abia State.
In an interview with newsmen, Okoro shed light on the rationale behind the bill, stating that while former governors enjoy entitlements worth billions of naira monthly, there are pensioners who dedicated years of service to the state but are still grappling with receiving their rightful pensions. He stressed that the funds spent on these entitlements should instead be channeled towards state development and the payment of civil servants’ salaries.
“We did not amend the bill, we scrapped it completely. The bill is about past governors who are not in active service receiving pensions and other entitlements after serving for four years,” Okoro explained. “They are paid by the state every month, so we had to repeal it. So, it no longer stands. When you are done with your tenure, just go home because nobody is paying you anything.”
Governor Otti had previously highlighted the challenges he inherited upon assuming office, including the backlogs of pensions and salaries owed to retired and active civil servants in the state. The passage of this bill is seen as a crucial step towards addressing these issues and ensuring a more sustainable financial future for Abia State.
During the same plenary session, the Assembly also passed two other significant bills. The first, ‘Bill for A Law to Establish the Abia State Cocoa Development and Marketing Board Bill 2024,’ sponsored by the Deputy Speaker, Rt. Hon. Augustin Okezie, aims to support the growth and development of the cocoa industry in the state. The second bill, ‘Bill for a Law to Establish Colleges of Nursing Sciences Owned by Faith-Based and Private Establishments in Abia State and for other related purposes,’ sponsored by the Chief Whip of the house, Hon. Emeka Obioma, seeks to improve nursing education in the state. The bill passed its second reading and was referred to the House Committee on Health for further deliberation and public hearing.
The passage of these bills underscores the Abia State House of Assembly’s commitment to tackling pressing issues in the state, including reducing the cost of governance, bolstering the cocoa industry, and enhancing nursing education.
Credit: The Nigeria Lawyer