The Edo State House of Assembly on Wednesday approved a pension benefit requested by the former governor of Edo State, Adams Oshiomhole.
The pension benefit, according to the pretext of the bill, is to provide a private residence valued at N200million anywhere in the nation, for former governors of the state.
Many residents of the state have kicked against this development especially considering the fact that Nigeria is in a recession, and famine is setting in. Many civil society groups have started to mobilize for protests and resistance against what they term insensitive robbery of the Edo people by the APC government in Edo state.
Another curious development is that in the bill, a list of beneficiaries was made. The list includes Mr Adams Aliyu Eric Oshiomhole, Senator Oserheimhen Osunbor, Chief Lucky Igbinedion and Dr Sam Ogbemudia.
Professor Ambrose Alli and Chief John Oyegun or their estate were carefully omitted.
The Edo Assembly also approved N100million worth of house for all former deputy governors.
If the law is assented to by the interim governor of Edo State, Godwin Obaseki, that would imply that all the former governors and their deputies stand to enjoy the pension benefit of residential buildings worth N200 million and N100 million anywhere in Nigeria.
The bill titled, “A bill for a law to amend the 2007 Pension Rights of the Governor and Deputy Governor Law” was approved by the House at the committee of the whole.
The only amendment to the pension rights of the governor and deputy was the inclusion of the value of the residential buildings in any location of their choice in Nigeria.
According to the bill with the subhead titled, “provision of a house” read thus; a house in a location of choice in Nigeria of the Governor provided that the total cost of building the house shall not be in excess of 200 million naira while 100 million naira for the deputy governor.
Political observers wonder why the bill will seek accommodation for a retiring governor or deputy governor outside Edo state. This was allegedly the argument of former Speaker Victor Edoror who was eventually suspended.
Other benefits to be enjoyed by the former governors are, a pension for life at a rate equivalent to 100 percent of his last annual salary in addition to an officer not above salary grade level 12 as Special Assistant.
A personal secretary not below grade level 10 who shall be selected by the former governor from the public service of Edo state.
He is 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.
3 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.
On the other hand, the deputy governor was entitled to 100 percent of his last annual salary as pension, a personal staff not above salary grade level 12 as Special Assistant, a personal secretary not below grade level 09, a cook and two policemen as security.
Also approved for the governor are 2 vehicles to be bought by the state government and liable to be replaced every five years, two drivers who shall be selected by the former deputy governor and paid by the state government and free medical treatment for him and his immediate family.
At a plenary session yesterday, the speaker of the House, Justine Okonoboh announced the suspension of the former speaker.
Okonoboh said the suspension was sequel to recommendation of the ad-hoc committee report on the allegations of financial impropriety leveled against the former speaker that he failed to appear before it to defend himself against the allegations.
The speaker also announced the dissolution of the house standing committtees
